Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie was on the receiving end of President Donald Trump's ire on Friday for trying to force a recorded vote on a $2 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package.

"Looks like a third rate Grandstander named @RepThomasMassie, a Congressman from, unfortunately, a truly GREAT state, Kentucky, wants to vote against the new Save Our Workers Bill in Congress," Trump tweeted early Friday.

Massie raised a procedural objection Friday afternoon immediately after the House of Representatives took a voice vote.

"Mr. Speaker, I came here to make sure our republic doesn't die by unanimous consent in an empty chamber, and I request a recorded voted," he said on the House floor. "I object on the basis that a quorum is not present and make a point of order that a quorum is present."

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The presiding officer, however, quickly ruled a quorum of representatives was present and declared the bill passed, and adjourned the House.

"If getting us into $6 trillion more debt doesn’t matter, then why are we not getting $350 trillion more in debt so that we can give a check of $1 million to every person in the country?" Massie tweeted earlier on Friday. "This stimulus should go straight to the people rather than being funneled through banks and corporations like this bill is doing."

Massie's gambit came at a high cost, with Trump using his Twitter pulpit to excoriate the Bluegrass State Republican in front of the country, which boosted the congressman's 2020 primary challenger.

The president said Massie "just wants the publicity" but wouldn't be able to stop the measure, which the Senate passed 96-0 late Wednesday.

"Workers (and) small businesses need money now in order to survive," Trump tweeted Friday. "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!"

Kentucky coronavirus live updates:Get the latest information here

Massie was hit with a deluge of bipartisan criticism after hinting on Thursday he might object to a simple voice vote on the bill, which includes one-time $1,200 checks to certain individuals and $367 billion in loans and grants to small businesses.

Many representatives had to rush back to Washington on red-eye flights to make it for Friday's vote in order to avert delaying the proposal, which seeks to help workers, small businesses and larger companies during the crisis.

"Dear Rep. Thomas Massie: If you intend to delay passage of the coronavirus relief bill tomorrow morning, please advise your 428 colleagues RIGHT NOW so we can book flights and expend ~$200,000 in taxpayer money to counter your principled but terribly misguided stunt," Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips, of Minnesota, tweeted on Thursday.

Former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, a Democrat, who tussled with Massie over climate change last year, delivered a profanity-laced rebuke in reaction to Trump's tweet.

"Breaking news: Congressman Massie has tested positive for being an a--hole," Kerry tweeted on Friday. "He must be quarantined to prevent the spread of his massive stupidity. He's given new meaning to the term #Masshole. (Finally, something the president and I can agree on!)."

Republican Rep. Pete King, of New York, also called out Massie without mentioning him by name.

"Heading to Washington to vote on pandemic legislation. Because of one Member of Congress refusing to allow emergency action entire Congress must be called back to vote in House," King tweeted Thursday. "Risk of infection and risk of legislation being delayed. Disgraceful. Irresponsible."

Related:Colleagues slam Massie for forcing lawmakers back for stimulus vote

Massie said in an interview on 55KRC radio he had worries about the economic relief proposal because of concerns over spiking the national debt.

"If it were just about helping people to get more unemployment (benefits) to get through this calamity that, frankly, the governors have wrought on the people, then I could be for it," he said.

"But this is $2 trillion," Massie added. "Divide $2 trillion by 350 million people — it's almost $6,000 for every man, woman and child. I'm talking about spending. This won't go to the men, women and children. So if you have a family of five, this spending bill represents $30,000 of additional U.S. national debt because there is no plan to pay for it."

Massie, a libertarian-leaning Republican, has developed a reputation over time as "Mr. No" in Congress for frequently voting against measures proposed by both parties. In February, for example, he was one of four representatives to oppose a measure that would make lynching a federal hate crime.

Massie did vote for a $8.3 million coronavirus relief measure in early March, but missed the vote for a second stimulus plan on March 14. The congressman told The Courier Journal he instead attended an unspecified event in Kentucky.

The congressman has used his social media platforms in recent weeks to call out state and federal government policies aimed at "flattening the curve" of infection from the coronavirus, often describing them as a threat to civil liberties.

"Make Orwell Fiction Again," Massie tweeted on Tuesday in reaction to the state's call for residents to report businesses or people who aren't following orders to help curb the coronavirus.

Coronavirus tracker:How many cases are in Kentucky? Where are they?

Traveling amid COVID-19 discouraged

The added concern was over Massie forcing many lawmakers to travel while federal and state health officials have discouraged it, especially for older Americans, amid the pandemic.

Democratic Rep. John Yarmuth, of Kentucky, was in self-quarantine after attending a March fundraising event in Louisville where three guests tested positive for the coronavirus.

Yarmuth, 72, tested negative for the virus and informed House leadership on Thursday that he was willing and able to travel if his vote was needed, according to his office.

"It’s unfortunate that one single member would choose to endanger the health and safety of not only an entire legislative body and its support staff, but also all of the communities to which these members will now return after convening in Washington," Yarmuth spokesman Chris Schuler said Friday.

"It’s particularly egregious because this legislation will pass with overwhelmingly bipartisan support whether by voice or recorded vote."

Earlier:Yarmuth is 'healthy at home' but ready to go to D.C. if Massie stops vote

At age 82, Republican Rep. Hal Rogers, of Kentucky, is the oldest member of the Bluegrass State's congressional delegation. He said in a tweet Friday that "one single no vote" won't stop the relief package.

"It would be a disappointing and unnecessary delay, but I want to assure Kentuckians that this bill will pass despite those who choose to put politics above the American people," Rogers said.

During his Thursday radio interview, Massie showed little regard for his colleagues who would have to travel, and instead emphasized that Congress needs to carefully examine a bill that doles out $2 trillion in taxpayer money.

"I'm having a really hard time with this. Because they're saying, well it's hard to travel, yadda yadda yadda," Massie told 55KRC radio.

Leading up to the voice vote on Friday, the congressman expressed outrage toward congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle for how little time each member was given to speak on the 800-page bill.

"Are they afraid of the truth?" Massie asked on Twitter. "I’ve been told that they don’t even have 1 minute available for me to speak against this bill during the 4 hour debate. The fix is in. If this bill is so great for America, why not allow a vote on it? Why not have a real debate?"

Stimulus check:Calculate how much money you could get

Massie's political reckoning

Massie, 49, lives in rural Lewis County, where he is a darling among tea party activists in Northern Kentucky. He also has grown to become a popular figure nationally among constitutional conservative lawmakers and groups.

Republican Rep. Chip Roy, of Texas, came to Massie's defense against critics, including Trump, on Friday. He said Massie is "one of the most principled men in Congress," who loves the country.

"He is defending the Constitution today by requiring a quorum," Roy said in a tweet Friday directed at Trump. "There’s nothing third rate about that, @realDonaldTrump. I may miss vote if he forces roll call (flights) but it will pass. Back off."

But establishment Republicans in Massie's district — which spans from eastern Louisville and across the Cincinnati suburbs of Northern Kentucky into Ashland — have long had a distaste for his style.

Locally:Kentucky General Assembly passes coronavirus relief bill

Kentucky attorney Todd McMurtry stunned many observers when he entered the Republican primary. He has launched an aggressive bid against Massie this year, and will likely be the chief beneficiary of Trump's attacks.

McMurtry is former president of the Northern Kentucky Bar Association who entered the race by arguing to GOP voters that Massie isn't a reliable vote for the president.

The challenger's campaign has since been pummeling the incumbent daily in email blasts to the press with different "Massie mistakes" it says Republicans ought to know about. McMurtry's campaign unveiled a new website outlining 100 different "mistakes" it argues congressman has made.

Trump continued to give McMurtry fuel on Friday by tweeting that Massie is helping "Radical Left Democrats" who want to make more progressive changes to the $2 trillion economic relief bill.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of New York, had similarly left open the door of doing what Massie has threatened to do in an interview with CNN.

"By empowering the Radical Left Democrats, do nothing Kentucky politician @RepThomasMassie is making their war on the 2nd Amendment more and more difficult to win (But don’t worry, we will win anyway!)," Trump tweeted on Friday. "He is a disaster for America, and for the Great State of Kentucky!"

See also:Unemployed workers in Louisville eager for $1,200 bailout checks

McMurtry said in a tweet Friday he concurred with Trump: "Massie is bad for the 2nd Amendment and Kentucky."

The Massie campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the impact of Trump's tweets.

The website FiveThirtyEight, which keeps a tally of how often every member of Congress votes with or against Trump, shows Massie has the third-worst rating among the 197 House Republicans in terms of voting in line with the president.

Massie sticks with the president's position 69.2% of the time, which lags behind Kentucky's other Republican representatives, who voted in line with Trump's position more than 95% of the time.

The reason for the high expectation, according to FiveThirtyEight's formula, is the president won Massie's district by 35.9% in 2016. It calculates the congressman should be voting in line with Trump 95% of the time.

Massie's campaign has pushed back against McMurtry by touting endorsements from several Kentucky Republicans in Washington, including Sen. Rand Paul and Rep. James Comer, who also have close relationships with the president.

Paul and Comer's offices did not immediately respond when asked whether they agreed with Trump on booting Massie from the party.

On Friday evening, however, Paul showed his support of the congressman, tweeting: “In times of panic, it is good to have someone with a cool, level MIT head asking the tough questions. Thank you @RepThomasMassie.”

In Kentucky:Legislators see bleak outlook for budget as virus impacts revenue

Reach Phillip M. Bailey at pbailey@courier-journal.com or 502-582-4475. Follow him on Twitter at @phillipmbailey.