Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert ignited a firestorm inside the MAGA movement on Friday, May 15, after posting side-by-side photos of herself with Rep. Thomas Massie and President Donald Trump, declaring support for both men.
“Below is my friend Thomas Massie. He loves America and is fighting to save it. Also below is my friend and President, Donald Trump. He’s put his life on the line to save this great country.
“I support both of these men. I’ve worked with both to preserve freedom and liberty. And if that makes you angry, bless your heart,” Boebert wrote on X.
Massie Welcomes Boebert’s Support
Massie replied minutes later: “Lauren is a great friend, and like most of my friends, she likes both Trump and me! Yes, it’s possible!!”
The post landed just days before Kentucky’s Republican primary on May 19, where Trump has endorsed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein against Massie.
Trump has made his opposition to Massie clear. At a Kentucky rally in March, he called the congressman “a complete and total disaster” who is “disloyal to the people of Kentucky, and most importantly, he is disloyal to the United States of America.”
Massie’s record explains the friction as he was one of only two Republicans to vote against the final version of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
He has spoken out against U.S. involvement in Iran and has pushed hard for the full release of Jeffrey Epstein’s files.
Massie maintains he supports Trump on most issues. According to CQ Roll Call, he voted in line with Trump 77.6 percent of the time last year.
MAGA Reactions
That defense has not satisfied Trump’s core supporters. Within hours of Boebert’s post, prominent MAGA accounts turned on her.
One account with over 17,000 followers wrote: “Time to primary Boebert another RINO snake.” Another with 257,000 followers said her endorsement “is suicide for her future with President Trump and MAGA.”
A larger account with more than 450,000 followers mocked her directly, calling her a RINO and saying Massie had exposed her.
Even some who said they once liked Boebert described the move as “the biggest mistake of her career.”
The backlash also dragged up earlier criticism of Boebert for appearing friendly with Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis at a baseball game in April.
Also Read: Trump-Endorsed Candidate Ed Gallrein’s AI-Generated Social Media Posts Spark Mockery
On the same day as her Massie-Trump post, Boebert announced that Polis had granted clemency to Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk and Trump ally, who was sentenced to 9 years in prison for a 2021 election data breach.
Boebert said she had spoken with Polis multiple times about the case and called the decision “great news.” Trump had publicly demanded Peters’ release.
This incident has sharpened questions about loyalty tests inside the Republican Party. Trump continues to target members he views as insufficiently supportive.
In Louisiana, he has gone after Sen. Bill Cassidy, who voted to convict him in the second impeachment trial, and backed a challenger in that primary as well.
Boebert, once dubbed a “MAGA warrior” by Trump when he endorsed her reelection, now finds herself caught between personal relationships and the pressure to align fully.
Also Read: Trump Cuts Colorado Water Funding, “Punishing” Lauren Boebert After She Defied Him
Her district in Colorado remains competitive, and she has faced tough races before. Whether her defense of Massie costs her among primary voters or national MAGA donors remains to be seen.
Massie is described as a conservative with libertarian leanings who often breaks with party leadership on issues of spending, foreign policy, and surveillance.
His supporters say he puts principle over personality, but party critics say his voting record has undermined key Trump priorities at crucial moments.
Many Trump supporters view any public defense of Massie as a direct challenge to the president.
Boebert has bet that personal loyalty and shared work on liberty issues can coexist with support for Trump.
A large segment of the online MAGA movement is making it clear they disagree.
