Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, expressed support for a short-term agreement with Iran after President Donald Trump stated that a deal with Tehran was nearly finalized. Massie highlighted the economic hardships Americans face due to the conflict during his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
When asked if he would back a temporary Iran agreement, Massie responded, “Heck yes, I would support it!” He mentioned not knowing the terms but was optimistic given the involvement of Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz.
Massie, known for his opposition to U.S. military interventions abroad, linked his support to rising fuel and farming costs at home. He noted that Kentuckians are struggling with high gas prices—nearly $5 per gallon—and expensive diesel at about $6 per gallon. Farmers also face increased costs for fertilizer.
My constituents are hurting,” said Massie. “Gas is almost $5 a gallon. Diesel is almost $6 a gallon, and the farmers here in Kentucky can’t afford the fertilizer to put on their fields.
Massie defended his political record after losing his Republican primary following seven terms in Congress. He emphasized that his independence in Washington had political costs. “Since day one in Washington D.C., I’ve approached the job as people expect,” Massie stated, showcasing his commitment to voting based on his convictions rather than party lines.
Massie highlighted attempts to collaborate across the aisle, including working with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna on Epstein-related legislation. His primary loss, he suggested, resulted from his bipartisan efforts.
I think the biggest crime I committed against the swamp, Kristen, was showing the American people that somebody on the right could join somebody on the left and get something done,” Massie mentioned. “That’s when they decided I had to be taken out.
He criticized significant outside spending in his campaign, noting that although they couldn’t buy his vote in 14 years, they “bought this seat.” Massie described his campaign as the most expensive in congressional primary history.
Massie warned that Republicans might face backlash from anti-war and fiscally conservative voters, indicating growing discontent within Trump’s coalition. He voiced frustration over GOP actions, suggesting they alienated certain factions by aligning too closely with pesticide and pharmaceutical industries.
Massie also critiqued GOP leadership over federal spending, opposing funding of Trump-backed projects. He specifically criticized the proposed White House ballroom project, calling it “an egregious waste of money.”
We’re operating like a Roman Empire,” Massie said. “We’re overextended overseas with our foreign aid, with our foreign bases. We’re spending money that we don’t have, and the gasoline and rent and groceries are so high that people can’t afford it.
While Trump announced on Truth Social that an agreement with Iran was “largely negotiated,” no detailed deal information was available Sunday morning. Efforts to obtain comments from Senators Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham were unsuccessful.
CJ Womack, associate editor at Fox News, contributed to this report. With a background in Political Science and Journalism from Long Beach State University, Womack offers insights into the news media landscape. For tips, contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter.