President Trump's social-media tirade against hard-line deficit-hawk Thomas Massie has had a big effect -- but not exactly the one Trump wanted. Since Trump's late-night tantrum in which he called for the Republican congressman to be ousted via a primary challenge, the Kentucky congressman has raked in more than $200,000 in donations. That huge and growing windfall comes as the Republican Jewish Coalition promised to help make Trump's dream of a Congress without Massie come true. 

Massie provoked Trump's wrath on Sunday, when he vowed to vote against a continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the government through Sept 30 -- but without spending cuts. "Why would I vote to continue the waste fraud and abuse DOGE has found?" wrote Massie on X. "We were told the CR in December would get us to March when we would fight. Here we are in March, punting again!" 

On Monday evening, a sputtering Trump used his Truth Social account to lash out at the libertarian-minded Massie:

"HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him. He's just another GRANDSTANDER, who's too much trouble and not worth the fight. He reminds me of Liz Cheney before her historic, record breaking fall (loss!). The people of Kentucky won't stand for it, just watch. DO I HAVE ANY TAKERS??" 

Eventually, the CR passed 217-213; thanks to Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, it's currently dead in the Senate. However, the follow-on effects of Trump's political attack on Massie have continued -- mostly in ways that add up to a big net-positive for Massie.

"I've received an amazing outpouring of support since I was attacked for voting No on the Biden-$-level CR. In fact, we just hit $205,000 from 2500 grassroots donors!" Massie wrote using his campaign's X account late Thursday afternoon, urging like-minded people to help keep the trend going. Earlier he'd noted that the influx pushed the balance of his campaign coffer over $1 million for the first time.

The sudden, non-election-year surge in contributions came alongside a social media reaction that saw a variety of conservatives and libertarians chiding the president for targeting Massie over his resolute opposition to profligate government spending, as the national debt marches toward the $37 trillion milestone.