In an appearance Thursday night on former Rep. Matt Gaetz’s debut show on a far-right news network, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) made an extreme vow, declaring he would not support Rep. Mike Johnson’s bid to retain his House Speakership title.
Gaetz interviewed Massie, a Republican who has frequently clashed with his MAGA colleagues, including Johnson, over various issues. When asked whether he would vote for Johnson to keep his position as Speaker if fellow Republican Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) was named chairman of the Rules Committee, Massie delivered a striking response, told the Washington Post.
“Oh no. You can pull all my fingernails out. You can shove bamboo up in them. You can start cutting off my fingers. I am not voting for Mike Johnson tomorrow. And you can take that to the bank,” Massie said. “You know that Matt.”
The dramatic declaration underscores Massie’s long-standing opposition to Johnson on issues like government spending. Massie has been a vocal critic of excessive government expenditures, and he has repeatedly called out Johnson for supporting the recent temporary government spending measure.
The bill, which funded the government through mid-March and averted a Christmas shutdown, was described by Massie as “worse than an omnibus” and as “giving away the farm.” “It’s not even just a spending bill,” Massie said at the time.
“It’s worse than an omnibus and I think it’s shameful that Mike Johnson would do this after we received a mandate in the election. I know it’s a lame-duck session, but still, there’s no reason for us to capitulate when on Jan. 20, Trump’s going to be President, and on Jan. 3, we have the majority in the Senate.”
Additionally, Massie has harshly criticized U.S. foreign aid spending, equating it to “watering the neighbor’s yard while your house is on fire.” This stance has put him at odds with many in his own party, particularly Johnson, who supports the status quo.
With the GOP holding a slim majority in the House, Johnson cannot afford to lose any more votes, or else risk triggering another round of division within the party, similar to the aftermath of ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s ouster in 2023.
Earlier, Massie bluntly told reporters, “I don’t know how to say this without cussing. If they thought I had no Fs to give before, I definitely have no Fs to give now.” His remarks highlight his defiance and unwavering stance on the matter.