Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has become a thorn in President Donald Trump's side as the president attempts to usher his spending and tax bill through Congress.
Known as the "One Big, Beautiful Bill Act," the megabill could make wide-ranging changes to U.S. fiscal policy if it is passed. The bill seeks to extend Trump's tax cuts from his first administration and makes sweeping spending cuts to domestic programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and Medicaid, among others.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the bill will add more than $2.7 trillion to the deficit between 2025 and 2034.
During an appearance on podcaster Theo Von's show "This Past Weekend," Massie didn't hold back in criticizing Trump's signature piece of legislation.
"Why are you against it, because it's not going to help our debt?" Von asked Massie.
"No. That's the first big lie that's told about the 'Big, Beautiful bill," Massie responded, alluding to the debt increases contained in the bill.
Massie added that the bill effectively kicks the financial can down the road for Congress instead of forcing lawmakers to deal with the country's deficit problems today. While the bill could have limited financial impacts during the first five years after it is passed, it will create a fiscal cliff during the second five years, Massie said.
"Nobody disputes that, even the number crunchers that work for the president," Massie said. "What they're claiming is that it will start to break even five years from now and reduce the deficit. The problem is, the people I serve with, a lot of them won't be there five years from now. President Trump won't be there five years from now."
Massie went on to say that the bill will raise taxes on seniors, tax tips, increase taxes on overtime, and reduce military spending, all of which is the opposite of what Trump ran on in 2024.
These issues should prompt future Congresses to take appropriate measures to rein in the deficit, but it likely won't, Massie added.
"What they'll do is cut taxes again and increase spending, and the deficit will never go down," Massie said.