President Donald Trump lashed out at Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., on Tuesday after a meeting with Republicans on Capitol Hill, saying the congressman is seeking attention.
Earlier in the day, Trump made an in-person pitch to the few remaining GOP holdouts at the House Republican Conference to unify behind his “big, beautiful bill.” Massie emerged from the conference unmoved by Trump’s presence or his words and confirmed he was still a “no” vote.
“I don’t think Thomas Massie understands government. I think he’s a grandstander, frankly” Trump told reporters after the meeting. “We don’t even talk to him much. I think he should be voted out of office.
“If you ask him a couple of questions, he never gives you answer. He just says I’m a no. He thinks he’s going to get publicity.”
The Massie vote another hiccup for Trump as tries to get his party to fall in line behind a critical piece of legislation. On Friday, a small group of Republicans joined with the unanimous opposition of the Democrats to oppose Trump’s bill.
Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, and Andrew Clyde of Georgia voted against advancing Trump’s budget at the House Budget Committee, where it was defeated in a final vote of 16-21.
Trump has also been blocked GOP’s SALT caucus, a group of blue-state Republicans from New York, California, and New Jersey that had promised to block the tax bill unless there were increases to the current $10,000 cap of SALT deductions.
Rep. Mike Lawler, D-N.Y., one of the primary SALT Republicans, pushed back on Trump Tuesday, saying the GOP needs congressman like him to keep their slim majority.
“While I respect President Trump and understand the importance of passing this legislation, I will not do so at the expense of my district — one of only three held by a Republican that Kamala Harris won in November. I will continue to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement and provide real and lasting tax relief for my constituents, who have been besieged by the highest taxes in the nation. I will not accept anything less,” Lawler said.
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