Politics
NEW: Trump Endorses Primary Candidate Against ‘Third-Rate’ GOP Foe
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he was endorsing a primary challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who has become increasingly adversarial with the administration and frequently votes against the president’s agenda.
The president first announced that he would be backing a primary opponent against Massie back in July, shortly after the congressman voted against the Trump-backed “Big Beautiful Bill,” which introduced a number of the administration’s key campaign promises. This includes a massive increase in funding for immigration enforcement, made the president’s 2017 tax cuts permanent, a number of economic incentives like “no tax on tips,” and more.
Trump has tapped one of his 2024 presidential campaign co-chairs, Chris LaCivita, with overseeing the campaign against Massie. On Friday, the president took to social media in order to formally announce his endorsement against the “third-rate” Kentucky lawmaker.
“Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, must be thrown out of office, ASAP!” the president announced in a Truth Social post. “The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District gave us a mandate to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and the person that will help us do that is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true America First Patriot.”
Gallrein previously ran for a state senate seat last year, narrowly losing to narrowly losing in the GOP primary. The winner of that race, fellow Navy SEAL and now-state Sen. Aaron Reed, was also vetted by Trump and his team as a possible challenger to Massie, Politico reported.
Some Republicans have also been pushing for former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron and gubernatorial candidate Daniel Cameron to enter the race against Massie, the outlet noted.
The president’s post indicates that he has decided on Gallrein, however, who has not yet entered the race. “I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left,” Trump wrote.
“Unlike ‘lightweight’ Massie, a totally ineffective LOSER who has failed us so badly, CAPTAIN ED GALLREIN IS A WINNER WHO WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN. Should he decide to challenge Massie, Captain Ed Gallrein has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, ED, RUN — MAGA!”
