Rep. Thomas Massie Shrugs Off Trump’s Personal Attacks After Remarriage, Vows to Push Epstein File Release

Massie Brushes Off Trump’s Barbs, Doubles Down on Transparency Push

Rep. Thomas Massie is dismissing personal attacks from former President Donald Trump after the president mocked the Kentucky Republican’s recent remarriage. Massie, 54, told This Week host Jonathon Karl that Trump is "trying to be a bully" and appeared unfazed by the criticism.

Last month, Trump demanded Massie be removed from office after Massie led the effort to publish documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein. On Friday, the president escalated his rhetoric on Truth Social, mocking the speed of Massie’s remarriage following the June 2024 death of his first wife, Rhonda Howard.

"Did Thomas Massie, sometimes referred to as Rand Paul Jr., because of the fact that he always votes against the Republican Party, get married already??? Boy, that was quick! ... His wife will soon find out that she’s stuck with a LOSER!" — Donald Trump, Truth Social

Massie kept his composure on air, quipping that Trump was likely upset because he hadn’t received a wedding invitation. He also downplayed Trump’s apparent backing of retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein as a possible primary challenger in 2026, saying he remains focused on releasing the Epstein files.

On the Epstein documents: Massie pointed to roughly 23,000 documents published by the House Oversight Committee, saying the release was a victory for transparency. According to the released material, some emails to and from Jeffrey Epstein reportedly include claims that Trump "spent hours" at Epstein’s home with a woman who later said she was a victim, and that Epstein wrote Trump "knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop." The wording and context come from the committee's releases and attributed correspondence; the claims in those documents are reported as part of the record.

"Dogs don’t bark at parked cars and we are winning. I am not tired of winning yet," Massie said, adding that Republican colleagues should prioritize transparency over short-term political endorsements. "Donald Trump can protect you in red districts right now by giving you an endorsement, but in 2030, he’s not gonna be the president and you will have voted to protect pedophiles if you don’t vote to release these files," he warned.

Political standing and personal background: Despite breaking with aspects of the MAGA movement over this issue, Massie reported his strongest fundraising quarter on record. Trump previously urged a primary challenge to Massie in 2020; Massie still won that GOP primary with 81 percent of the vote and was subsequently reelected.

Massie was married for 31 years to his high school sweetheart, Rhonda Howard, with whom he shared four children. After Howard’s death in June 2024, Massie called her the "love of his life" in a social media tribute. He has since married Carolyn Grace Moffa, a former staffer for Sen. Rand Paul, according to People.

The piece also notes Trump’s marital history: he was married to Ivana Zelníčková (1977–1992), Marla Maples (1992–1999), and Melania Knauss (married in 2005). The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.

Why it matters

This confrontation highlights tensions within the Republican Party over accountability, endorsements and the political fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein records. It also underscores how personal attacks on social media can intersect with congressional fights over sensitive materials and oversight.