House Republican Thomas Massie posts joke about write-in ballot listing 'DeSantis' for president

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky on Tuesday posted a photo of a ballot containing his name as a write-in presidential candidate, quipping, “I do NOT recommend this …unless you’re in a state where the outcome is already decided.”

Rep. Thomas Massie, an idiosyncratic libertarian who represents a deep-red Kentucky district, shared a photo on X of a ballot that had “DeSantis/Massie” written in as candidates for president and vice president.

After the publication of this story, a campaign spokesman responded to a request for comment and said Massie’s post was a joke, noting the ballot, which also included Sen. Elizabeth Warren, was from Massachusetts.

“I do NOT recommend this,” said the post, which was published to the Massie campaign’s X account on Tuesday evening, “unless you’re in a state where the outcome is already decided.”

I do NOT recommend this…

…unless you’re in a state where the outcome is already decided. 😂 pic.twitter.com/neHsEopt9H

— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) October 15, 2024

Massie and former President Donald Trump have had a somewhat tortured relationship, with Trump calling for the Kentucky congressman to be ousted from the GOP after he stalled a vote on a COVID relief package in March 2020.

Massie was also one of a handful of House Republicans who endorsed Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida during the 2024 GOP presidential primary, and he has declined to formally endorse Trump since Trump secured the party’s nomination.

…& costly. Workers & small businesses need money now in order to survive. Virus wasn’t their fault. It is “HELL” dealing with the Dems, had to give up some stupid things in order to get the “big picture” done. 90% GREAT! WIN BACK HOUSE, but throw Massie out of Republican Party!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 27, 2020

The Kentucky congressman has also long been a thorn in the side of the GOP generally.

In May, he partnered with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in an unsuccessful bid to oust Mike Johnson from the speakership, an effort driven in part by Johnson’s decision to allow the House to vote on Ukraine aid.