A Trump Republican critic urges constituents to oppose an effort to remove him : NPR

Scott Simon, host:

President Trump’s most frank republican critic on Capitol Hill faces huge pressure to fold or pay the price. And now, the member of the Kentucky Congress, Thomas Massie, 12 -year -old, asks his voters to fight an effort to move him.

(Soundbit of archived registration)

Thomas Massie: We must have a second opinion on everything. Our founders have set up a balance between the government, and the government’s balance has disappeared if you do not have a counterweight within your own party.

Simon: It is the Massie representative, joined by the Kentucky senator, Rand Paul, to rally the voters during a campaign stop in their condition. The Congress of the NPR Congress, Claudia Grisale, went to the north of Kentucky, but it is here in our studios now. Claudia, thank you very much for being with us.

Grisal Claudia, byline: delighted to see you, Scott.

Simon: The member of the Massie Congress and Senator Paul, who was another Trump critic of several questions, visited more than half a dozen communities. What did you hear?

Grisal: Visit after visit, they told voters that President Trump is one of the best presidents of their lives. But they argued that they were also part of the same republican party, and there should be room for disagreement. Paul defended Massie, who is a longtime friend, as the last member of the Tea Party, fighting for conservative values. I asked Paul to develop what it means.

Rand Paul: There will be no more tea. This is the idea of ​​a limited government. But I am for Thomas Massie.

Grisal: And we have to note that Trump also targeted Paul, but he is not ready to re-election until 2028. However, in the case of Massie, his seat will be disputed, like all the seats in the house, halfway up next year.

Simon: Now President Trump has publicly attacked Massie and Paul on several occasions for voting against his program. Why don’t they make the line like their colleagues?

Grisal: Massie and Paul are cut off from the same type of Tea Party, Libertarian Cloth, which is a contrast of the president – in particular at the moment, when the congress led by the Republicans has shown great loyalty to the president. They are therefore often at the president’s opposite ends with regard to expenses, prices, the first amendment. And in the case of Massie, he leads a charge to force the release of Jeffrey Epstein’s discs. And the two also play with this political mark and independent state of mind of the Maverick Kentucky.

Simon: How did you see the voters receive the messages from Massie and Paul?

Grisal: I saw a whole range of reactions. Some were very faithful to Massie and Paul. Others said they went too far or that Trump went too far. I spoke to a couple who showed up at an event bearing t-shirts that read, I stand with Thomas Massie.

I spoke to Diane Olberding. She voted for Trump in the last elections, and she feels betrayed.

Diane Olberding: These two guys here do not change their convictions. You know, talking is cheap, and we all know Mr. President Trump likes to speak. But he must continue what was elected – Maga.

Simon: Now, of course, President Trump has won Kentucky three consecutive elections with two -digit margins. In fact, his highest percentage took place in 2024. What is the size of a challenge to face Massie in her re -election campaign?

Grisal: Well, it is unusual to launch a campaign for a siege in Congress more than a year aggressively and with this level of expenditure, all for a primary race in a firmly red district. Massie thinks that it is the most spent on a race in the congress so early. And the war trunk has raised against him, who was fed by the president – Massie says that it has increased millions. He has also repeatedly referred to these television advertisements which are already broadcast on these markets, accusing Massie de Bruning, which, according to him, was a complete lie. But we must note that Massie presented himself without opposition in 2024, so it will be difficult to find a candidate who will be strong enough and will have this kind of identification name to divert the voters from Massie.

Simon: Grisal Claudia of NPR, thank you very much.

Grisal: Thank you.

(Soundbite of “The Traveler” by Rob Levit)

Simon: This is NPR News.

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