Watch: Trump slams GOP lawmaker Thomas Massie, who pressed for Epstein files release, as ‘moron’

Massie, a libertarian-leaning lawmaker, has often opposed Trump-backed legislation, including major tax and spending measures, and has challenged presidential authority on military action without congressional approval. Trump has endorsed Massie’s GOP primary challenger, retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, and urged Republicans to unseat the incumbent.Reacting to Trump’s remark, Massie wrote on X, “The President of the United States called me a moron at the National Prayer Breakfast this morning because I’m still fighting for what he promised the American people: Reduce big spending, DOGE, no new wars, end foreign aid, defend 1A 2A 4A, prolife, and expose sex traffickers.”Massie has also gained attention for his bipartisan campaign to release government records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, he authored the Epstein Files Transparency Act, signed into law in November 2025, mandating the Justice Department to release nearly all records on Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.The lawmakers have accused the DOJ of violating the law by delaying releases and heavily redacting documents. In a January 30 letter to Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, Massie and Khanna requested a special master to review unredacted records, arguing that Congress cannot properly oversee the department without complete access.While the Justice Department says its recent release of over three million pages marks compliance, Massie continues to face criticism, including from Trump, who called the Epstein files a “Democrat hoax.” The Kentucky congressman remains defiant, posting on social media: “It was not a hoax, I cannot be bullied, I am not done, and this is why those in power are doing everything in their power to defeat me.”