Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., reportedly turned to supporters for donations Friday after President Donald Trump publicly blasted him on social media, branding him a “lowlife Republican” amid an ongoing dispute over the release of government files tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Massie reacted to the attack with a pointed post on X, framing the moment as deeply personal and politically revealing. “Imagine celebrating a blessed Christmas with your family… suddenly phones alert everyone to the most powerful man in the world attacking you… for fulfilling his campaign promise to help victims!” Massie wrote. He followed up by quoting Trump’s remark directly, highlighting the president’s reference to him as “plus one lowlife Republican, Massie.”
The remark came as part of a broader Christmas message from Donald Trump, who took aim at figures connected to Epstein. Trump wrote that once names tied to Epstein are revealed through what he described as a “Radical Left Witch Hunt,” it would become clear that Democrats were at the center of the scandal, adding Massie as the lone Republican exception.
The clash is the latest chapter in a long-running feud between Trump and Massie. The Kentucky congressman has repeatedly positioned himself as a thorn in the president’s side, most notably when he helped force a House vote compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related files. Trump initially urged Republicans to oppose the move but later relented, ultimately signing Massie’s bill into law. The legislation was co-sponsored by Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California.
At the time Trump reversed course, Massie told Politico that the president “got tired of me winning,” echoing a phrase Trump himself used in 2018. Since then, Massie has continued to criticize how the administration handled the rollout of the Epstein files.
The Justice Department began releasing documents on Dec. 19, the statutory deadline for disclosure. Massie quickly expressed frustration, arguing the release fell short of what the law required. In a post on X, he accused Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche of failing to comply with both the spirit and letter of the law Trump had signed just weeks earlier.
Massie escalated his criticism the following day, accusing Bondi and the Justice Department of openly disregarding the statute. He compared the text of the Epstein Files Transparency Act with a letter sent by the administration to Congress asserting its authority to redact certain identifying information, arguing the two were fundamentally at odds.
Alongside Khanna, Massie has threatened to fine Bondi until the full set of documents is released. Khanna went a step further, floating the idea of impeachment. In an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Khanna said impeachment would depend on political support in the House, adding that neither he nor Massie would pursue such action merely for show.
Khanna argued that early reactions from MAGA supporters and Epstein survivors suggested the document release had only deepened mistrust. He said the controversy could prove damaging for Bondi, echoing criticism that the rollout failed to restore confidence.
As Trump and Massie trade public blows, the dispute underscores deep divisions within the Republican Party over transparency, executive authority, and how far to push in reopening one of the most controversial scandals in modern political history.
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