Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) faced backlash for suggesting President Trump should reduce his inflammatory language after the fatal shooting of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. Massie told The Hill that Trump’s rhetoric, including labeling the Epstein resolution as a “hostile act,” was “ridiculous” and “amusing.” He added, “Some people take it literally, and he should probably tone that down himself.”
Massie, known for clashing with GOP leadership, has previously opposed measures like Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to raise the debt ceiling. In response, Trump labeled Massie “not MAGA” and urged supporters to challenge him in primary elections, calling him an “embarrassment to Kentucky” and a “real loser.”
The tension escalated after Massie filed a discharge petition to release the Epstein files, a move nearing enough signatures for a vote. Meanwhile, Trump blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s killing, stating, “We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them.”
Massie acknowledged the heated climate, saying, “Emotions are raw,” but urged calm, adding, “I don’t think you can blame anybody for what they say in the next 24 or 48 hours.”