Donald Trump and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) have been at odds for some time now, and the president just followed through on a prior threat to primary the congressman.
Massie has fought Trump on the big, beautiful bill and the Epstein files in recent months, but the conflict between the two actually goes way back.
Trump is now backing a former Navy SEAL to take out Massie in his Kentucky primary race.
In June, tensions between Trump and Massie were at an all-time high, reaching a point where House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) was facing constant questions about it.
Johnson responded, “That’s the hardest question I had this morning, and I’m being totally honest with you. Look, the Speaker’s job, my role with my party cap on is I’m leader of my party here, and the Speaker leads the incumbent protection program, right, that’s what we call it. I got to make sure everybody gets reelected. I travel the country nonstop, relentlessly, raising money to ensure that that happens.”
He continued, “But I certainly understand the president’s frustration about the colleague you named, and he and I talk about that quite a bit. Can’t quite understand what the rationale is, but if you’re here and you’re wearing one team’s jersey and every single time you vote with the other team, people begin to question what your motive is and what your philosophy is and why you’re so consistently opposed to the platform, the agenda of your party.”
Trump has arguably been obsessed with Massie, even though there are other Republicans pushing back against the president on the same issues. One Republican observed, “It does strike me as odd that this is the fight you’d really want to pick at a time when we should be more worried about keeping the House majority than taking out Republicans from it.”
Massie has been leading the charge on Epstein documents by introducing a discharge petition in the House, which is currently only one signature short of passage. The last required signature will be obtained as soon as Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) is sworn in, something Johnson says will happen after the government shutdown has ended.
Trump went off on Massie again this week over that very petition.
He posted, “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!”
I have never endorsed the idea of Trump going after Republicans who were battling him on policy, as long as I believe that they are doing what their constituents are asking them to do. Not every red district in this country is in favor of all things Trump, and a congressman’s first duty is to those constituents, not to the party or the president. Their job is to represent, and clearly, with Massie’s re-election history, that is what he believes he is doing.
Trump has delivered on his promise to primary Massie, throwing his support behind Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and Kentucky farmer.
After Trump announced his support for Gallrein, the Navy veteran posted, "This district is Trump Country. The President doesn’t need obstacles in Congress – he needs backup. I’ll defeat Thomas Massie, stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, and deliver the America First results Kentuckians voted for."
Gallrein served for three decades in the Navy, retiring as a Captain, claiming he served multiple deployments with SEAL Team 6. He has a massive fruit salad on his chest, including four Bronze Stars.
Massie has fended off primary challenges before, but none with this kind of backing from Trump. We are about to find out if Massie has been self-serving or representing the people of Kentucky and their wishes. I am not backing either horse in this race, as it is not my state, but I will be following it closely as it could be a sign of things to come. If Trump can oust Massie, can he also oust Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who has also been pushing back against Trump on many of the same issues.
