It’s not every day you see a Republican congressman fold faster than a cheap lawn chair under the weight of presidential criticism.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has withdrawn his resolution to curb President Donald Trump’s war powers, a move that came hot on the heels of a ceasefire announcement between Iran and Israel—and a barrage of sharp words from the commander-in-chief himself.
The Daily Mail reported that Massie’s retreat from his resolution followed intense pushback from Trump and his team, a ceasefire that cooled tensions with Iran, and unexpected Democratic support for his initial stand against military action.
This saga kicked off when Massie, alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, launched a War Powers Resolution with 57 cosponsors, aiming to check Trump’s authority over military moves against Iran.
The Kentucky Republican didn’t mince words, blasting Trump’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as “unconstitutional” without Congress’s say-so. It was a bold stand, but boldness doesn’t always pay the bills in politics.
By Sunday, Trump wasn’t just annoyed—he was livid, taking to social media to brand Massie a “grandstander” who’s weak and ineffective. “MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER,” Trump posted, not holding back an ounce of frustration over Massie’s TV appearances criticizing successful strikes on Iran. If that’s not a digital slap, what is?
Monday rolled in with more heat as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tore into Massie on Fox News, suggesting he’s more at home with Democrats than his own party.
“He should be a Democrat,” she quipped, implying Massie’s stance was anything but America First. That’s a burn that stings worse than a Kentucky summer without air conditioning.
Not to be outdone, Trump doubled down on social media, declaring, “GET THIS 'BUM' OUT OF OFFICE, ASAP!!!” It’s the kind of rhetoric that doesn’t just raise eyebrows—it raises entire foreheads. For a president known for straight talk, this was a megaphone to Massie’s political survival instincts.
Then came the game-changer: Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, pulling the rug out from under Massie’s urgency. Suddenly, the resolution seemed less like a necessity and more like a political lightning rod. Massie, sensing the shift, agreed to shelve it after a chat with the Speaker on Monday night.
“I talked to the Speaker on the floor just now and told him we wouldn’t push it if the cease-fire holds,” Massie said. That’s a pragmatic pivot, but one wonders if it’s principle or pressure steering the ship. After all, “wait and see” doesn’t exactly scream conviction.
Massie had been vocal, even sassy, about his opposition, posting online with the hashtag #sassywithmassie and quipping that Trump’s attacks on him should require congressional approval.
It’s a clever jab, but wit doesn’t win wars—or political battles—when the big guns are out. Trump’s camp wasn’t laughing, and neither were many conservatives who see military strength as non-negotiable.
Interestingly, Massie found allies in Congressional Democrats eager to score points against Trump, a partnership that didn’t sit well with GOP loyalists.
While cross-party collaboration can be noble, it’s a risky dance when your base values party unity over bipartisan brownie points. For many on the right, this looked less like principle and more like playing into the opposition’s hands.
Trump’s deputy chief of staff, James Blair, eventually tipped a hat to Massie for stepping back, writing a polite “Thank you for your attention” with a siren emoji for flair. It’s a small olive branch, but after the social media storm, it’s more like a twig. Still, it signals the White House is ready to move on—if Massie is.
Massie’s own words before the pullback were fiery, insisting on social media that Congress would vote on U.S. actions in Iran, no matter what. That defiance melted quicker than ice in a microwave once the ceasefire hit and Trump’s criticism mounted. It’s hard not to see this as a lesson in picking battles wisely.
For conservatives, this episode underscores a broader tension: balancing constitutional checks with the need for decisive leadership in volatile times. Trump’s supporters argue he acted within his rights as commander-in-chief, as Leavitt noted on Fox News, defending his legal authority under Article 2.
Yet Massie’s initial push wasn’t without merit for those wary of endless overseas entanglements, a sentiment shared by many on the right tired of regime-change experiments. His cry of “I will not vote for another regime change war” resonates with an America First ethos that prioritizes borders over foreign battles.