{"id":2500303,"date":"2025-10-17T20:26:02","date_gmt":"2025-10-18T00:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-pressures-gallrein-to-primary-massie-must-be-thrown-out\/"},"modified":"2025-10-17T20:27:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-18T00:27:16","slug":"trump-pressures-gallrein-to-primary-massie-must-be-thrown-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-pressures-gallrein-to-primary-massie-must-be-thrown-out\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump pressures Gallrein to primary Massie: &#8216;Must be thrown out&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-pressures-gallrein-to-primary-massie-must-be-thrown-out%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2500303&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former President Donald Trump is urging Ed Gallrein, a Kentucky Republican and military veteran, to challenge incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) in the upcoming Republican primary. trump condemns Massie as a weak and ineffective congressman who opposes key White House priorities, including the One Big Stunning Bill and positions on issues like Israel and the Epstein files. Although Gallrein has not officially entered the race, he has shown openness to running and previously received GOP establishment backing in a close state Senate primary. Trump&#8217;s push against Massie follows his allies launching a super PAC investing heavily to unseat Massie by 2026.Despite losing support from prominent Republicans like Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, Massie remains a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/steve-daines-offers-tim-sheehy-early-senate-endorsement-as-part-of-new-gop-election-strategy\/\" title=\"Steve Daines endorses Tim Sheehy early in Senate race, part of GOP&#039;s new election strategy.\">strong fundraiser<\/a> and popular figure in his district, known for his libertarian views and occasional criticism of Trump. Trump also criticized another Kentucky Republican, Sen. Rand Paul, though it is indeed unclear if he will support a primary challenger against him.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump pressures Ed Gallrein to primary Massie: &lsquo;Must be thrown out of office&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2221949\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a> urged Ed Gallrein, a Kentucky Republican, on Friday to run against Rep. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) ahead of the Republican primary.<\/p>\n<p>The development follows Trump&rsquo;s threat to back a primary challenger against Massie after the rebel incumbent lawmaker bucked the White House on the president&rsquo;s signature on the One Big Beautiful Bill, the Epstein files, Israel, and other matters.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3855354\/democratic-young-primary-challengers-strong-fundraising\/\">Democratic incumbents face young primary challengers with strong fundraising numbers<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3854707\/jackie-norris-drops-iowa-senate-bid\/\">Iowa Senate candidate drops bid to focus on school board after superintendent was arrested by ICE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/3853543\/daniel-cameron-leading-kentucky-senate-primary-polls\/\">Daniel Cameron ahead in GOP Kentucky Senate primary polls despite raising fraction of rivals&#8217; funds<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>This week, the president hailed Gallrein as &ldquo;the person that will help us&rdquo; defeat Massie, whom he described as a &ldquo;third-rate Congressman&rdquo; and &ldquo;a Weak and Pathetic RINO.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;[Massie] must be thrown out of office, ASAP! The incredible people of Kentucky&rsquo;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,&rdquo; Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115391855540856433\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">wrote in a post<\/a> to Truth Social. <\/p>\n<p>Gallrein has not yet entered the race, but he suggested earlier this year that he is <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/_AustinHorn\/status\/1940090018124767598\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">more than open <\/a>to such a possibility. Gallrein was backed by establishment GOP leaders when he<a href=\"https:\/\/www.courier-journal.com\/story\/news\/politics\/elections\/kentucky\/2024\/05\/21\/kentucky-state-senate-contested-primary-winners\/73612203007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> ran last year<\/a> for a seat in the Kentucky state Senate. He lost the three-way primary campaign to rival Aaron Reed, who won by under 200 votes.<\/p>\n<p>The president&rsquo;s fiery statement in Gallrein&rsquo;s support comes after his allies launched a super PAC in June to prevent Massie from winning his 2026 reelection bid. The group has spent $1.8 million on independent expenditures, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/live-updates\/2025\/10\/15\/congress\/massie-best-fundraising-quarter-fec-00608844\">according<\/a> to <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>While Massie, known as one of Congress&rsquo;s only libertarians, has <a href=\"https:\/\/abc7chicago.com\/post\/gop-leaders-help-rep-thomas-massies-reelection-bid-pres-donald-trump-plots-ouster-amid-jeffrey-epstein-files-fight\/17764799\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lost support <\/a>from leading Republicans such as Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), any challenger faces a long road.<\/p>\n<p>Massie&rsquo;s campaign last month <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/3851371\/thomas-massie-record-breaking-fundraising-haul\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">marked the best fundraising quarter <\/a>of his career, raising $768,000 from July through September. And he&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >won reelection multiple times<\/a> since first assuming office in 2012, winning the 2024 GOP primary with 76% of the votes.<\/p>\n<p>Massie has been critical of Trump this year on several matters, including the One Big Beautiful Bill, due to concerns that it raised the national debt. However, the Kentucky lawmaker has remained nuanced in his take on Trump, telling podcaster and comedian Theo Von earlier this year that &ldquo;there&rsquo;ll never be another person like him, particularly not one that becomes president.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been on his good side, and I&rsquo;ve been on his bad side, and it seems like every couple years, it flips,&rdquo; Massie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=8yyrZ-XhVrY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">told Von<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>At the time, the congressman recounted how Trump called after his wife died last year, even though Massie had endorsed the president&rsquo;s rival, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), in his race to win the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He left a really nice message of condolences, and that was thoughtful of him, and so it was, and that&rsquo;s a side people don&rsquo;t see, right?&rdquo; Massie said. &ldquo;I actually campaigned for Ron DeSantis, and Trump felt compelled to leave that message, even though I hadn&rsquo;t endorsed him. It was a very thoughtful message.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Trump<a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115391842662459841\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> also issued<\/a> a Truth Social message against one of Massie&rsquo;s Kentucky colleagues, fellow libertarian Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY). <\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/3842179\/hillary-bill-clinton-house-oversight-committee-jeffrey-epstein-ties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HILLARY AND BILL CLINTON DELAY HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE DEPOSITIONS: WHAT TO KNOW ON THEIR EPSTEIN TIES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He was never great, but he went really BAD! I got him elected, TWICE (in the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky!), but he just never votes positively for the Republican Party,&rdquo; Trump railed. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s a nasty liddle&rsquo; guy, much like &lsquo;Congressman&rsquo; Thomas Massie.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen if Trump will support a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/don-jr-issues-warning-to-gop-reps-unsupportive-of-president-trump\/\" title=\"Don Jr. issues warning to GOP reps. un...ive of ... Trump\">primary challenge<\/a> against Paul.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump urges Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie in primary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2500304,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MixCollage-22-Jun-2025-03-04-PM-9033.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[65438,4850,38533,4909,3634],"class_list":["post-2500303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-gallrein","tag-massie","tag-political-pressure","tag-primary","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/MixCollage-22-Jun-2025-03-04-PM-9033.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2500303"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2500307,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2500303\/revisions\/2500307"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2500304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2500303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2500303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2500303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}