Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein beats Massie in Kentucky’s 4th district as part of Trump’s tightening grip on the GOP
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Rep.Thomas Massielost his primary election to a Republican challenger after more than a year of clashing with PresidentDonald Trumpon everything from spending tothe release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Massie was beaten by retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein Tuesday in Kentucky’s 4th district after a bitterly personal contest. The president had backed Gallrein and on Monday, dispatched Defense SecretaryPete Hegsethto campaign for Gallrein.
Massiehad become an increasingly loud critic on the Republican side of the aisle. He opposed making Mike Johnson speaker of the House in early 2025. He would then vote against Trump’s massive tax cut legislation known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” on the account that it would explode the budget deficit.
Moments after Massie’s projected defeat,Trump’s reaction was captured on cameraat an unrelated White House event.
“We won the Massie thing. He was a bad guy. He deserved to lose,” the president said.
Trump’s team was quick to gloat over the result.
“Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power. F*** around, find out,” White House communications director Steven Cheung posted on X shortly after the result was called.
Massie took shots at MAGA, Gallrein and Fox News in his concession speech Tuesday night.
“Why am I hopeful right now? We have the younger demographic. You are patriots and you will inherit the country. You will make it better and I am hopeful because of it. We started out as an election and it turned into a movement. There is a yearning in this country for somebody who votes for the principles of her party,” he said.
And he added: “I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent to concede and it took a while to find him in Tel Aviv.”
