Thomas Massie, Who Loves to Talk About His 'Principles,' Just Made Quite the Admission to Politico

Thomas Massie gave an interview to Politico yesterday, in which the publication said he goes "toe-to-toe" with high-ranking members of the Trump administration including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Thomas Massie has gone toe-to-toe with Donald Trump, Mike Johnson and Pam Bondi — and he says there’s more to come.

The rebel Republican shares his ominous prediction for the GOP, his strategy to dig even deeper into the Epstein files and more👇 https://t.co/PpOfuFAttB
— POLITICO (@politico) February 17, 2026

There was one passage that stood out among many conservatives, one that dealt a major blow to the claims that Massie is operating on principles. Namely, Massie's vote was contingent on whether or not Speaker Mike Johnson would publicly praise him for releasing the Epstein files.

Incredible. Thomas Massie admits he decided how to vote on a bill based on whether Speaker Johnson would release a statement praising him.

Very principled. pic.twitter.com/sI8sljtk1Z
— AG (@AGHamilton29) February 18, 2026

"One day, they needed my vote, and I offered to give them my vote if he would issue a press release thanking me for my good work on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. That's all I required to get my vote. And I think he probably went and gave somebody else a bill to pass instead of doing the public statement," Massie told Politico.

Wow.

This is a literal quote from Thomas Massie's interview with Politico. OMG.

"Praise me publicly and I'll vote the way you want."

WTAF. pic.twitter.com/JZrMtFGY9V
— Chicks On The Right (@chicksonright) February 17, 2026

So very principled.

“Principled conservative” Thomas Massie told Politico he withheld his support on a key vote because he wasn’t praised by Speaker Johnson for the Epstein file releases.

These are the people calling Trump childish. pic.twitter.com/KOcDcuC9he
— johnny maga (@johnnymaga) February 18, 2026