GOP lawmaker puts Trump on notice that he may 'lose the majority this midterm'

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) gave a stark warning to President Donald Trump Thursday that further inter-party attacks will likely see Republicans “lose the majority this midterm.”

“Attacking republicans who lean independent or libertarian is how Republicans (Trump) will lose the majority this midterm,” Massie wrote in a social media post Thursday on X.

Trump’s political operation has launched an effort to unseat Massie over disagreements related to the US strikes on Iran last month. Massie was the sole Republican to voice opposition to the strikes, and went as far as co-sponsoring a war powers resolution to check the president’s authority to authorize such strikes.

Massie was also just one of two House Republicans to vote against Trump’s budget reconciliation package known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and in return, Trump has targeted Massie as being “weak,” “ineffective,” and “disrespectful” to the US Military, and pledged to help fund a primary challenger to unseat the Kentucky Republican.

Massie and Trump have had a tumultuous relationship over the years, with Massie originally supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' run for president in 2024, though ultimately backed Trump when he secured the nomination.

Independent and third-party voter registration has grown over the years, with 32% of registered voters as of 2025 not affiliated with either the Republican or Democratic parties, an increase of ten percentage points from the year 2000.

With independent voters increasing in numbers particularly in some swing states, Massie argued that further inter-party attacks, especially towards more libertarian-leaning Republicans such as himself, would likely bode poorly for Republicans chances in the 2026 midterm elections.

“MAGA Inc., the money grubbing grifters that surround Trump, (not to be confused with the MAGA grassroots), have already spent $1.8 million against me,” Massie wrote.