Rep. Thomas Massie declared, “I am not suicidal,” adding that he eats healthy food and that “the brakes on my car and truck are in good shape,” after an online exchange that followed a lengthy post criticizing House leadership and congressional procedure.
I am not suicidal. I eat healthy food. The brakes on my car and truck are in good shape. I practice good trigger discipline and never point a gun at anyone, including myself. There are no deep pools of water on my farm and I’m a pretty good swimmer.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 13, 2026
The Kentucky Republican’s comment came in response to a user who wrote, “Honestly I’m surprised af they haven’t kicked you out yet. You need to keep reminding the public each and every single day that you are not suicidal and are a great swimmer.” Massie’s reply — emphasizing his health and vehicle safety — followed that remark and quickly drew attention amid his broader criticism of what he describes as entrenched practices in Washington.
In the thread, Massie questioned whether voters can “vote your way out of this,” arguing that the public is often misled by how House rules are structured and modified. He wrote that “the swamp has tricks for deceiving the public” and contended that even members of Congress can be unaware of how procedural mechanisms are used.
Can you, the people, “vote your way out of this?”
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) February 13, 2026
Honestly, not if you get your news from these folks.
The swamp has tricks for deceiving the public, and most even work on congressmen. Here’s an example of how Laura and Greg played along as happy tools of the swamp.
Please ask… pic.twitter.com/lHBLPDTyhz
The House adopts a rules package at the start of each Congress, with some procedures tracing back to early congressional traditions associated with figures such as Thomas Jefferson. But Massie said the House Rules Committee routinely advances temporary modifications each week to govern how legislation is considered on the floor. He previously served on the committee and said he refused to support rule changes if he believed their purpose was to mislead or obscure.
Typically, the Rules Committee meets before other committees each week to craft a rules package that sets the terms for debate and amendments on bills expected to reach the floor. The full House then votes on that package, often along party lines. Massie said members are frequently urged to support such packages out of party loyalty, in part to prevent the minority from using standing rules to delay or block legislation.
This week’s dispute centered on a rules package that included provisions allowing House leadership to act outside standard procedures. According to Massie, the initial package failed after he and other Republicans objected. He said the proposal sought to circumvent the National Emergencies Act of 1976 to avoid votes on tariffs and to waive a rule prohibiting a spending bill from being brought to the floor the same day it is introduced.
A revised rules package removed the tariff-related provision, but Massie said it still allowed leadership to bring forward legislation before members had time to read it. He voted against the second package as well, arguing that it embedded that authority within the rule governing consideration of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act.
The SAVE Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It would bar states from processing voter registration applications for federal elections without such proof and require states to establish alternative methods for applicants to demonstrate citizenship. The bill also directs states to take ongoing steps to identify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls, creates a private right of action against election officials who register applicants without documentary proof and establishes criminal penalties for certain violations. The Election Assistance Commission would be required to issue implementation guidance to state election officials within 10 days of enactment.
Massie said critics had portrayed his opposition to the rules package as opposition to the SAVE Act itself, an assertion he rejected. He argued that if the rule had failed, the committee could have drafted a revised version that still allowed the voting legislation to come to the floor without the additional procedural provisions he opposed.
His remarks about House rules and his blunt declaration about his own safety marked the latest escalation in a week defined by procedural disputes, campaign tensions and renewed public attention on the inner workings of Congress.
