Rep. Thomas Massie Predicts Midterm “Shellacking” for Trump-Backed GOP

Republican Representative Thomas Massie (KY) told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that the 2024 midterm elections will deliver a “shellacking” for President Donald Trump and the GOP. He said the president’s “comeuppance” will occur on Election Day, followed by a broader “reckoning” afterward. Massie, who lost his 2025 primary to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, framed the warning as a consequence of Republicans’ reliance on Trump during primaries and their subsequent attempts to distance themselves from him in the general election.

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Massie has long positioned himself as a libertarian-leaning critic of Trump, opposing the administration’s immigration enforcement tactics and supporting bipartisan efforts such as the release of Justice Department files on the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. His primary defeat in Kentucky reflects a broader pattern in which many GOP candidates aligned with Trump to win nominations but now seek to separate from the president to appeal to swing voters. The warning comes amid reports that Trump’s approval sits at roughly 32 percent, a 15-point decline from the start of his second term, and that his foreign-policy rating is around –32 percent, according to Reuters polling.

The Independent

• Presidential approval: 32 percent overall; a 15-point drop since the beginning of the second term (Reuters).

The Independent

• Foreign-policy rating: –32 percent (Reuters).

The Independent

• Rural base economic approval: Only 4 in 10 rural voters approve of Trump’s handling of the economy (Associated Press).

The Independent

These figures illustrate the president’s low standing across multiple issue areas, providing a quantitative backdrop to Massie’s qualitative warning.

The Independent

• **Sen.

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• Rep. Byron Donalds (FL): The Florida congressman, once a vocal Trump supporter, has removed references to the former president from his campaign website, signaling a similar strategic shift among vulnerable GOP office-holders.

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Massie’s critique aligns with a growing chorus of Republicans who view Trump’s unpopularity as a liability. Critics within the party argue that continued alignment with Trump could jeopardize their electoral prospects, especially in swing districts. Conversely, some GOP leaders continue to endorse the president’s policies, creating an internal tension that Massie highlighted as a “price” Republicans are paying.

Mediaite

• “I was the Republican who was speaking out for so long, and they were all whatever Trump wants, they were all for it in their primaries,” — Rep. Thomas Massie

The Hill

• “But you know, that’s just who he is,” — Rep. Thomas Massie

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No specific future events were detailed in the sources beyond the upcoming November midterms, which will serve as the test of Massie’s prediction.

The Independent