Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters “bless his heart” Tuesday when asked if he would back Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-Ky.) reelection bid, once again stopping short of an endorsement — and making a handful of veiled swipes at the Kentucky Republican.

The acrimony comes as Massie continues to push for a vote on his bipartisan resolution calling for the release of documents in the Jeffrey Epstein case, a measure many Republicans are opposed to. Massie is vowing to use a discharge petition to force a vote on the measure, something rarely used by a member of the majority.

Massie is also awaiting a primary challenger for his reelection bid next year, after drawing the ire of President Trump for his criticism of the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and his opposition to the party’s tax and spending megabill, among other stances. Trump allies are pouring money into an effort to oust the seventh-term Congress member.

Pressed Tuesday if he would support Massie or his primary opponent, Johnson demurred and did not hide his frustrations.

“As the leader of my party, I lead the incumbent protection program,” Johnson told reporters at a press conference in the Capitol. “That's my job. I go all around the country, I travel endlessly, incessantly — I've raised over $300 million to do that, and we want everybody to come back.”

“And some people, I try to protect them from themselves, you know,” he........

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