Thomas Massie says Trump attacked his wife, then drops one detail that changes everything

Representative Thomas Massie responded Monday after President Trump launched a personal attack targeting the Kentucky lawmaker’s wife. The dispute quickly drew attention inside Republican circles because of its unusually personal tone and the figures involved.

As reported by The Hill, the president used a post on his social media platform to claim that Massie’s wife, Carolyn Grace Moffa, was a “Radical Left ‘flamethrower’” and suggested their recent marriage had turned Massie into a liberal or a Republican in Name Only. The post framed the marriage itself as a reason for questioning Massie’s loyalty to the party.

Massie responded publicly, rejecting the characterization and pointing out a detail he said undercut the accusation entirely. He wrote that his wife voted for Trump three times, directly challenging the claim that she was a radical left figure influencing his politics.

The dispute escalated quickly inside the GOP

In his response, Massie suggested the attack may have stemmed from something other than ideology, a dynamic seen in other Republican infighting, such as the recent move by Trump that killed a conservative rebellion over the shutdown deal where internal disputes reshaped party tactics. He said the president may have been told that his wife encouraged him to question former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi about the status of the unreleased Jeffrey Epstein files during a private dinner. Massie wrote that Bondi told him there were no additional files, adding, “As they say, the rest is history.”

The president’s original post did not soften its language. Trump wrote that “people are saying” Massie became a liberal because of his new wife and described Massie as “an absolutely terrible and unreliable ‘Republican.’” He went on to suggest Massie might be a Republican in Name Only or worse, escalating a feud that has been building for months.

Trump has already endorsed Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, to challenge Massie in a Republican primary. In past statements, the president praised Gallrein as a “HIGH QUALITY individual” and said he was running because Massie had been “totally disloyal” to both Trump and the Republican Party, urging voters to ensure Massie loses.

While Massie has broken with the administration on several high-profile issues, including pushing for the release of Epstein-related files and voting against the GOP-backed One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer, he has emphasized his electoral strength. Massie has publicly cited more than $2 million in cash on hand as evidence that he remains well-positioned for reelection.

The attack on Massie’s wife also drew pushback from within the party. Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Massie online, noting that his wife voted for Trump three times and stating that Massie votes with the president 91 percent of the time, while refusing to support measures tied to Epstein or foreign spending, a stance underscored by recent reports that the Clintons offered testimony in the Epstein probe, further intensifying scrutiny on the issue.

Massie’s wedding to Moffa was attended by several prominent Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul and Representatives Jim Jordan and Warren Davidson, underscoring her ties within conservative circles. As of now, the White House has not issued any further clarification or response beyond the president’s original post.