Latest news with #TonyFabrizio
CNN
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump allies taking on Thomas Massie after Kentucky Republican's recent opposition to the president
Donald Trump's allies have launched a super PAC that will seek to oust Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who opposed the president's domestic policy bill and criticized his strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The move to target Massie demonstrates Trump and his allies' willingness to unleash his well-funded political organization on members of their own party who buck the president's agenda. The new group is called MAGA KY, according to a statement of organization filed with the Federal Election Commission. It shares a treasurer with Trump's main super PAC, MAGA Inc. Axios first reported the super PAC's formation, which the outlet said would be overseen by two key Trump allies: Chris LaCivita, who served as co-manager of Trump's 2024 campaign, and pollster Tony Fabrizio. Trump, LaCivita and James Blair, the president's deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs, all have criticized Massie on social media in recent days. Trump called the Kentucky Republican a 'negative force' and a 'simple minded 'grandstander'' on his Truth Social platform after Massie criticized Trump's strikes as 'unconstitutional.' Massie was one of just two Republicans in the House to vote against the sweeping tax and spending bill that is the centerpiece of the president's domestic policy agenda. In recent days, he emerged as a vocal opponent of Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities without congressional authorization. 'I'm here to represent the base of the MAGA party that got Trump elected,' Massie told CNN's Manu Raju on 'Inside Politics Sunday.' 'Most of us were tired of wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and we were promised that we would not be engaging in another one.' The libertarian-leaning Republican recently joined Democrats in sponsoring a resolution to rein in the executive's power to go to war with Iran. Massie noted that US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s were 'at least' debated in Congress at the time with requests from then-President George W. Bush. 'It should have been declarations of war, but at least they did an Authorization of Use of Military Force,' Massie said. 'We haven't had that. This has been turned upside down.' On Monday evening, however, Massie indicated to journalists that he would not continue to push for the resolution if the ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced earlier that day by Trump holds. He argued, however, that Trump still violated the Constitution. 'There was another way to do this where you could still get the credit, where you do it constitutionally,' he said. Massie, who has represented his northern Kentucky seat since 2012, said he doesn't think Trump can knock him out by campaigning for a GOP primary opponent. Trump's 'endorsement's worth about 10 points, and I can sustain that,' Massie told Raju on Monday. Massie has vocally opposed multiple initiatives of Trump's second term. The lawmaker previously called the White House's insistence that Trump's major policy bill would not raise the US deficit 'a joke' — a comment that drew the president's ire. 'I don't think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he's a grandstander, frankly. … I think he should be voted out of office,' Trump told reporters ahead of a May meeting with House Republicans. Massie was also the sole GOP lawmaker who didn't vote for Mike Johnson as House speaker in January, despite a Trump intervention and encouragement from the president that Republicans needed to work as a team.
CNN
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump and his allies take aim at Rep. Thomas Massie, in first effort to oust a GOP incumbent
Donald Trump's allies have launched a super PAC that will seek to oust Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who opposed the president's domestic policy bill and criticized his strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The move to target Massie demonstrates Trump and his allies' willingness to unleash his well-funded political organization on members of their own party who buck the president's agenda. The new group is called MAGA KY, according to a statement of organization filed with the Federal Election Commission. It shares a treasurer with Trump's main super PAC, MAGA Inc. Axios first reported the super PAC's formation, which the outlet said would be overseen by two key Trump allies: Chris LaCivita, who served as co-manager of Trump's 2024 campaign, and pollster Tony Fabrizio. Trump, LaCivita and James Blair, the president's deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs, all have criticized Massie on social media in recent days. Trump called the Kentucky Republican a 'negative force' and a 'simple minded 'grandstander'' on his Truth Social platform after Massie criticized Trump's strikes as 'unconstitutional.' Massie was one of just two Republicans in the House to vote against the sweeping tax and spending bill that is the centerpiece of the president's domestic policy agenda. In recent days, he emerged as a vocal opponent of Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities without congressional authorization. 'I'm here to represent the base of the MAGA party that got Trump elected,' Massie told CNN's Manu Raju on 'Inside Politics Sunday.' 'Most of us were tired of wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and we were promised that we would not be engaging in another one.' The libertarian-leaning Republican recently joined Democrats in sponsoring a resolution to rein in the executive's power to go to war with Iran. Massie noted that US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s were 'at least' debated in Congress at the time with requests from then-President George W. Bush. 'It should have been declarations of war, but at least they did an Authorization of Use of Military Force,' Massie said. 'We haven't had that. This has been turned upside down.' On Monday evening, however, Massie indicated to journalists that he would not continue to push for the resolution if the ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced earlier that day by Trump holds. He argued, however, that Trump still violated the Constitution. 'There was another way to do this where you could still get the credit, where you do it constitutionally,' he said. Massie, who has represented his northern Kentucky seat since 2012, said he doesn't think Trump can knock him out by campaigning for a GOP primary opponent. Trump's 'endorsement's worth about 10 points, and I can sustain that,' Massie told Raju on Monday. Massie has vocally opposed multiple initiatives of Trump's second term. The lawmaker previously called the White House's insistence that Trump's major policy bill would not raise the US deficit 'a joke' — a comment that drew the president's ire. 'I don't think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he's a grandstander, frankly. … I think he should be voted out of office,' Trump told reporters ahead of a May meeting with House Republicans. Massie was also the sole GOP lawmaker who didn't vote for Mike Johnson as House speaker in January, despite a Trump intervention and encouragement from the president that Republicans needed to work as a team.
CNN
24-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Trump and his allies take aim at Rep. Thomas Massie, in first effort to oust a GOP incumbent
Donald Trump's allies have launched a super PAC that will seek to oust Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who opposed the president's domestic policy bill and criticized his strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The move to target Massie demonstrates Trump and his allies' willingness to unleash his well-funded political organization on members of their own party who buck the president's agenda. The new group is called MAGA KY, according to a statement of organization filed with the Federal Election Commission. It shares a treasurer with Trump's main super PAC, MAGA Inc. Axios first reported the super PAC's formation, which the outlet said would be overseen by two key Trump allies: Chris LaCivita, who served as co-manager of Trump's 2024 campaign, and pollster Tony Fabrizio. Trump, LaCivita and James Blair, the president's deputy chief of staff for legislative affairs, all have criticized Massie on social media in recent days. Trump called the Kentucky Republican a 'negative force' and a 'simple minded 'grandstander'' on his Truth Social platform after Massie criticized Trump's strikes as 'unconstitutional.' Massie was one of just two Republicans in the House to vote against the sweeping tax and spending bill that is the centerpiece of the president's domestic policy agenda. In recent days, he emerged as a vocal opponent of Trump's decision to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities without congressional authorization. 'I'm here to represent the base of the MAGA party that got Trump elected,' Massie told CNN's Manu Raju on 'Inside Politics Sunday.' 'Most of us were tired of wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and we were promised that we would not be engaging in another one.' The libertarian-leaning Republican recently joined Democrats in sponsoring a resolution to rein in the executive's power to go to war with Iran. Massie noted that US actions in Iraq and Afghanistan in the 2000s were 'at least' debated in Congress at the time with requests from then-President George W. Bush. 'It should have been declarations of war, but at least they did an Authorization of Use of Military Force,' Massie said. 'We haven't had that. This has been turned upside down.' On Monday evening, however, Massie indicated to journalists that he would not continue to push for the resolution if the ceasefire between Israel and Iran announced earlier that day by Trump holds. He argued, however, that Trump still violated the Constitution. 'There was another way to do this where you could still get the credit, where you do it constitutionally,' he said. Massie, who has represented his northern Kentucky seat since 2012, said he doesn't think Trump can knock him out by campaigning for a GOP primary opponent. Trump's 'endorsement's worth about 10 points, and I can sustain that,' Massie told Raju on Monday. Massie has vocally opposed multiple initiatives of Trump's second term. The lawmaker previously called the White House's insistence that Trump's major policy bill would not raise the US deficit 'a joke' — a comment that drew the president's ire. 'I don't think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he's a grandstander, frankly. … I think he should be voted out of office,' Trump told reporters ahead of a May meeting with House Republicans. Massie was also the sole GOP lawmaker who didn't vote for Mike Johnson as House speaker in January, despite a Trump intervention and encouragement from the president that Republicans needed to work as a team.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump campaign unleashes PAC to oust GOP congressman who questioned authority to strike Iran
President Donald Trump's political team has launched a political action committee (PAC) targeting GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's congressional seat in 2026, Fox News Digital has confirmed. Chris LaCivita, a veteran Republican strategist who was co-campaign manager for Trump's 2024 presidential bid, and Tony Fabrizio, longtime GOP pollster and Trump's top pollster in 2024, will steer the "Kentucky PAC." It is the first time the Trump campaign apparatus has directly targeted an incumbent Republican through a super PAC, and the move signals an aggressive new strategy to hold congressional Republicans accountable for thwarting Trump's legislative agenda. The news was first reported by Axios on Sunday night. As the president considered whether to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, Massie emerged as the leading Republican voice willing to challenge Trump's constitutional authority to usher the U.S. into the burgeoning conflict between Israel and Iran. When Trump announced successful strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday night, Massie was clear in his rebuttal, "This is not constitutional." Thomas Massie Says He Feels 'Misled' By Trump After Iran Strikes: 'He's Engaged In War' Read On The Fox News App "FAFO ….working on the FO …" LaCivita responded to Massie on Saturday, which means, "F--- around and find out." 'Not Constitutional': Congress Evokes New War Powers Resolution To Reject Trump's Strikes On Iran By Sunday night, LaCivita confirmed the Axios report, responding on X, "Here's the FO" – a clear message to Massie, and any Republican who undermines the president, that Trump's political arm is prepared to respond. Massie was elected U.S. representative for Kentucky's fourth congressional district in 2012. The fiscal firebrand, one of the few remaining House GOP members willing to disagree with Trump, staved off Republican primary challenges in deep red Kentucky in 2020 and again in 2024. Last week, the Republican co-sponsored the War Powers Resolution along with 48 Democrats, trying to prevent Trump from striking Iran without congressional approval. Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I of the Constitution. The War Powers Resolution seeks to "remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic State of Iran" and directs Trump to "terminate" the deployment of American troops against Iran without an "authorized declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military forces against Iran." When Trump announced America's successful strikes on Iran – without congressional approval – Massie and his Democratic co-sponsors, including Rep. Ro Khanna, were quick to criticize the president on social media and during a joint appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "I feel a bit misled," Massie told Fox News Digital in a Sunday afternoon interview. "I didn't think he would let neocons determine his foreign policy and drag us into another war." The Kentucky Republican has broken from Trump on several other occasions and has been one of the few GOP officials to openly clash with the president — particularly on government spending and foreign intervention. Trump threatened to primary Massie for his unwillingness to bend on the House GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill negotiations, comments Massie subsequently used in fundraising messages for his 2026 re-election campaign. Massie was one of just two House Republicans who voted against Trump's megabill last month, arguing it did not do enough to tackle the country's enormous national debt, which sits at well over $36 trillion. In a lengthy Truth Social post Sunday afternoon, Trump signaled he had enough of Massie's dissent, claiming "MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him," and once again called him a "grandstander." "MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague! The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard. MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one," Trump said Sunday. Massie did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's inquiry about the Kentucky article source: Trump campaign unleashes PAC to oust GOP congressman who questioned authority to strike Iran
Fox News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump campaign unleashes PAC to oust GOP congressman who questioned authority to strike Iran
President Donald Trump's political team has launched a political action committee (PAC) targeting GOP Rep. Thomas Massie's congressional seat in 2026, Fox News Digital has confirmed. Chris LaCivita, a veteran Republican strategist who was co-campaign manager for Trump's 2024 presidential bid, and Tony Fabrizio, longtime GOP pollster and Trump's top pollster in 2024, will steer the "Kentucky PAC." It is the first time the Trump campaign apparatus has directly targeted an incumbent Republican through a super PAC, and the move signals an aggressive new strategy to hold congressional Republicans accountable for thwarting Trump's legislative agenda. The news was first reported by Axios on Sunday night. As the president considered whether to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, Massie emerged as the leading Republican voice willing to challenge Trump's constitutional authority to usher the U.S. into the burgeoning conflict between Israel and Iran. When Trump announced successful strikes on three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday night, Massie was clear in his rebuttal, "This is not constitutional." "FAFO ….working on the FO …" LaCivita responded to Massie on Saturday, which means, "F--- around and find out." By Sunday night, LaCivita confirmed the Axios report, responding on X, "Here's the FO" – a clear message to Massie, and any Republican who undermines the president, that Trump's political arm is prepared to respond. Massie was elected U.S. representative for Kentucky's fourth congressional district in 2012. The fiscal firebrand, one of the few remaining House GOP members willing to disagree with Trump, staved off Republican primary challenges in deep red Kentucky in 2020 and again in 2024. Last week, the Republican co-sponsored the War Powers Resolution along with 48 Democrats, trying to prevent Trump from striking Iran without congressional approval. Congress has the sole power to declare war under Article I of the Constitution. The War Powers Resolution seeks to "remove United States Armed Forces from unauthorized hostilities in the Islamic State of Iran" and directs Trump to "terminate" the deployment of American troops against Iran without an "authorized declaration of war or specific authorization for use of military forces against Iran." When Trump announced America's successful strikes on Iran – without congressional approval – Massie and his Democratic co-sponsors, including Rep. Ro Khanna, were quick to criticize the president on social media and during a joint appearance on CBS News' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "I feel a bit misled," Massie told Fox News Digital in a Sunday afternoon interview. "I didn't think he would let neocons determine his foreign policy and drag us into another war." The Kentucky Republican has broken from Trump on several other occasions and has been one of the few GOP officials to openly clash with the president — particularly on government spending and foreign intervention. Trump threatened to primary Massie for his unwillingness to bend on the House GOP's One Big Beautiful Bill negotiations, comments Massie subsequently used in fundraising messages for his 2026 re-election campaign. Massie was one of just two House Republicans who voted against Trump's megabill last month, arguing it did not do enough to tackle the country's enormous national debt, which sits at well over $36 trillion. In a lengthy Truth Social post Sunday afternoon, Trump signaled he had enough of Massie's dissent, claiming "MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him," and once again called him a "grandstander." "MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague! The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard. MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one," Trump said Sunday. Massie did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's inquiry about the Kentucky PAC.
