As the Kentucky Primary approaches on Tuesday, Donald Trump is turning his full attention toward Rep. Thomas Massie, with the single-minded goal to unseat the incumbent. He has been using every bit of his influence to rally support for his preferred challenger, Ed Gallrein, while simultaneously attacking Massie for what he views as a lack of loyalty.
This race has become the most expensive House primary battle in the history of the United States, with $25.6 million poured just into advertising. By extension, the district has become a test for Trump’s ability to reshape the Republican Party. To aid that push, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will be campaigning for Gallrein. Trump also hit Truth Social to attack Massie, and anyone who supports him, including long-time MAGA supporter, Rep. Lauren Boebert.
In a Sunday morning post, he said,
“Tom Massie of Kentucky, the worst and most unreliable Republican Congressman in the history of our Country, is an even bigger insult to our Nation than Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who suffered an unprecedented loss tonight by not even being allowed to run in the Republican Primary.”
He then labeled Massie a “major sleazebag” and a “true negative force,” urging his base to vote the lawmaker out.
The entire campaign against Massie has been highly concerning
Trump’s frustration with Massie runs deep. His largest complaint is regarding the congressman’s voting record.
“Bad Congressman Tom Massie voted against Tax Cuts, the Border Wall, our Military and Law Enforcement. Actually, he voted against almost everything that is good,” Trump wrote.
Thomas Massie just revealed that Pete Hegseth is going to Kentucky to personally campaign against him.
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) May 15, 2026
“This shows how serious it is to the global elites that I lose.”
“The Secretary of War may be coming to my district to campaign against me.”
“During a war.”
“And that’s why… pic.twitter.com/H5KbnxUUAl
Trump also highlighted Massie’s collaboration with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna. To no one’s surprise is isn’t happy that they joined forces to push for the release of files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
After Boebert appeared at a rally to support Massie, The Hill reported that Trump went off on her. “Boebert is campaigning for the Worst ‘Republican’ Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, and anybody who can be that dumb deserves a good Primary fight!” Trump posted. In usual Trump fashion, he followed that up with a threat.
Massie: You can tell that I'm ahead in the polls and they're desperate. That's why they're sending the Secretary of War to my district tomorrow. That's why the president's losing sleep and tweeting about this. That's why AIPAC has dumped another $3 million into my race this… pic.twitter.com/vdEBn9ppbH
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 17, 2026
“Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my Honor to withdraw that Endorsement, and endorse a good and proper alternative.” Interestingly, this is the first time he has struck out at her publicly, even though Massie himself revealed that Boebert has faced severe pressure for supporting Epstein transparency.
Then there is dear old Hegseth. His involvement is probably the best example of how intense things are getting. After all, his future presence at Gallrein’s rally has sparked concerns about the Hatch Act.
The Thomas Massie primary is truly insane. We are looking at the most expensive U.S. House primary in history, with spending pushing toward $35 million.
— Lauren (@cabsav456) May 16, 2026
Massie's opponent, Ed Gallrein, has raised just $2 million on his own. The rest of the money, over $14 million, is coming from…
The Pentagon told Newsweek that there is no conflict, as Hegseth is attending the rally in a personal capacity and that no taxpayer dollars are being used. However, it is a clear sign from the administration.
Despite that, Massie remains defiant. “You can tell that I’m ahead in the polls and they’re desperate. That’s why they’re sending the Secretary of War to my district tomorrow,” Massie said during an appearance on ABC News’ This Week. Then again, he has never been bothered by Trump’s rants about him.
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) May 17, 2026
HOLY SMOKES MAGA IS AT WAR: The President of the United States just publicly demanded a primary challenger for Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Her offense: she campaigned this weekend for Republican Rep. Thomas Massie.
Trump’s exact words on Truth Social:
“Weak Minded… pic.twitter.com/JbUaNqBzbt
Massie has also suggested that the president’s aggressive rhetoric might actually work in his favor. Massie stated that Trump’s posts are “going to help my fundraising at ThomasMassie.com,” Massie said.
He noted that every time the president mentions him, it generates more interest and contributions from supporters who dislike the aggressive tactics being used against him. He also claims the race has become a battle against outside billionaires like Miriam Adelson and Paul Singer, whom he accuses of trying to buy the congressional seat.
There were only 4 of us, Republicans, that signed the discharge petition to force the vote to release the Epstein files.
— Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene
Thomas Massie, Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, and myself.
Trump has come after us one by one ever since then.
The President told Speaker Johnson not to allow…
The race remains a nail-biter, with recent polling from Quantus Insights showing Gallrein at 48.3 percent and Massie at 43.1 percent. Whether the massive influx of spending and the president’s direct intervention will be enough to topple the incumbent remains the big question.
For now, both sides are digging in for the final hours before voters head to the polls on Tuesday. Massie maintains that he is a fighter for his constituents, stating, “I vote with the president 91 percent of the time. The 9 percent of the time, my party is taking up for pedophiles, bankrupting this country or starting another war.”
