Trump Takes Aim at Thomas Massie as Epstein Files Feud Intensifies
The battle over the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files has reignited fierce infighting within the Republican Party, putting President Donald Trump’s (R) power over the MAGA movement to the ultimate test.
From his home base at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump wasted no time publicly lambasting Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) as the “worst Republican Congressman” after Massie’s bipartisan bid to unseal the infamous Epstein files gained traction in Congress. The Kentucky lawmaker, well known for bucking party leadership, has again stirred the pot, this time teaming up with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) to invoke an obscure procedural maneuver called a discharge petition—a way to force congressional action when leaders are blocking a vote.
The fireworks first ignited when Massie, frustrated by slow-walking from House higher-ups, announced he would not stand down from his demand: bring every last file related to Epstein’s demise into public view. MAGA loyalists, watching events unfold, have seen Trump’s recent remarks as a warning shot to any Republicans who consider breaking ranks. In fact, the President isn’t just grumbling; he’s promised to openly endorse and even campaign for Massie’s primary challenger—an unusual move that underscores just how high the stakes have become. According to the Washington Times, Trump did not mince words, branding Massie an “embarrassment” and declaring the Kentucky seat up for grabs in 2026.
“He’s the laziest, slowest, most disingenuous member of the Republican conference. Kentucky deserves better and so does the country,” Trump posted on Truth Social, lighting up conservative social media platforms and turning Massie into one of the most-talked-about names in conservative circles.
Adding fuel to the fire, Massie accuses party leadership of “slow-walking” the truth and insists the pursuit isn’t just political theater.
But here’s the rub: While Trump’s signature America First rallying cry typically demands government transparency, he’s lately dismissed the Epstein probe as “boring,” even calling the renewed interest a “hoax by political enemies.” The about-face, after years of Trump promising to make the Epstein materials public, shocked some in the base but reinforced his reputation for confronting political enemies—no matter their party affiliation or their MAGA bona fides.
If Massie has his way, this legislative drama is just heating up, and the Republican Party could be on a collision course as the rank-and-file return to Washington this September.
Bipartisan Maneuvering: Massie’s High-Stakes Discharge Petition Unnerves GOP Leadership
Amid the roar of Trump’s criticisms, Rep. Massie has dug in, refusing to retreat or be cowed by presidential rebuke. Instead, the Kentucky libertarian is doubling down—backed not just by conservatives demanding transparency, but by a surprising swath of Democrats as well. Alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), he’s co-leading what has become one of this session’s most-watched bipartisan efforts: the so-called “Epstein Files Transparency Act.”
This rare congressional gambit is called a discharge petition—one of the only ways rank-and-file lawmakers can force the hand of reluctant leadership and demand a floor vote on legislation being stonewalled by committee chairs. The petition needs 218 signatures—a full House majority—before it can bypass Speaker Johnson’s (R) control and bring the question of Epstein file release directly to a vote.
So far, Massie and Khanna have gathered just over a dozen Republican signatures—well short of the finish line, but more than enough to send tremors through the House GOP. As reported in the Washington Examiner, Massie expects numbers will grow after the summer recess as public pressure builds. “We believe Americans have a right to know what happened in the Epstein case,” Massie insisted on Fox News, echoing calls from grassroots conservatives who view government secrecy as deeply suspicious.
“They’re terrified of sunlight,” Massie said during a recent Capitol Hill scrum, “but I’m betting constituents across red and blue districts alike want answers. When we get back from the August break, I’m confident more Republicans will sign on.”
Conservative media, for its part, has provided wall-to-wall coverage, turning the discharge petition into a trending issue online. Trump loyalists, however, are divided: some worry Massie is grandstanding and harming party unity just as the House moves to tackle major border, economy, and energy reforms. Others see him as a champion of truth—living out the grassroots promise to hold both elites and bureaucrats accountable.
Interestingly, Massie’s effort is not just about the files themselves. He claims that, despite repeated statements from the Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi that no incriminating Epstein client list has been found, much remains hidden. “The information released so far is simply not enough,” Massie declared. The demand for transparency could put House Republicans in a difficult position this fall as their majority hangs by a thread and the public appetite for accountability soars.
Transparency, Power Struggles, and the Trump-Era GOP: A Battle for Party Identity
With the discharge petition poised for a major post-recess push, observers say the Republican infighting isn’t just about files or personalities—it’s about party identity and the shifting balance of power in the Trump-era GOP. Since President Trump (R) stormed back into office in 2024, the conservative movement has become synonymous with straight talk, government skepticism, and America First populism.
Yet the Epstein file fight has exposed deep divisions over transparency, loyalty, and the lines between healthy debate and outright factionalism. Trump’s America First brand has always touted openness—yet, in this case, the President has grown skeptical, framing Epstein conspiracy probes as “hoaxes” ginned up by his foes.
“People want to turn this into the biggest deal in the world,” Trump raged at a recent rally in Ohio, “but the real danger is letting radical Democrats waste our time and distract us from real problems: China, the border, and defending America.”
This clash between national populist leadership and libertarian-leaning dissenters like Massie isn’t entirely new. For years, Massie has clashed with the Trump wing of the party—famously resisting spending bills and criticizing administration policies he claims betray limited government values. MAGA activists who once hailed Massie as an independent voice now worry these internal spats risk weakening the party heading into critical 2026 midterms.
Yet, the growing interest from Democrats and even establishment Republicans to “release it all” raises questions about whether the Trump movement can bridge these divides—or whether transparency fights, once a conservative hallmark, will become a wedge issue under renewed America First governance.
As autumn approaches and the House returns to session, all eyes will be on Massie’s next moves—and whether Trump can turn grassroots anger at Washington secrecy to his own advantage, or if dissidents like Massie will gain traction in a restless Congress hungry for accountability.