{"id":2578667,"date":"2026-03-11T14:42:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-trump-endorsed-rival-ditched-maga-label-in-2016\/"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:44:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T18:44:28","slug":"massie-says-trump-endorsed-rival-ditched-maga-label-in-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-says-trump-endorsed-rival-ditched-maga-label-in-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Massie says Trump-endorsed rival ditched MAGA label in 2016"},"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\">18<\/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%2Fmassie-says-trump-endorsed-rival-ditched-maga-label-in-2016%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=2578667&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>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rep-jasmine-crockett-reveals-what-happened-off-camera-during-clash-with-mtg-it-was-gonna-get-into-a-fight\/\" title=\".... Jasmine Crockett Details Off-Camera Confrontation with MTG: &#039;It Was Close to a Fight\">article centers<\/a> on a Republican primary fight in Kentucky between Rep.Thomas Massie and his Trump-endorsed challenger Ed Gallrein. Massie accuses Gallrein of not genuinely representing the GOP, pointing to Gallrein\u2019s past switch from Republican to autonomous in 2016 as evidence, while Trump endorsed Gallrein to challenge Massie for not staunchly defending the MAGA agenda. Gallrein\u2019s campaign says the brief <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/manchin-2024-intrigue-keeps-west-virginia-centrist-in-limelight\/\" title=\"Manchin 2024 intrigue keeps West Virginia centrist in limelight\">registration change<\/a> was a past frustration with how the district\u2019s politics worked,and that he now aligns with Trump and true conservative Republicans. massie\u2019s camp released an ad portraying Gallrein as a \u201cTrump traitor,\u201d a charge that drew praise from Sen. rand paul and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The piece also notes Trump\u2019s public involvement, including a Truth Social post and an upcoming visit to the district to back Gallrein, and it places the intra-GOP clash in the broader context of Republican messaging ahead of 2026.  <\/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\">Massie feuds with Trump-endorsed opponent over Gallrein&rsquo;s decision to ditch party label<\/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_2529287\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) attacked his rival&rsquo;s GOP credentials, suggesting Ed Gallrein isn&rsquo;t the Republican champion President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> believes he is.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Trump endorsed Gallrein <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/115391855540856433\">to primary <\/a>the incumbent lawmaker last October, framing him as someone who would defend the MAGA agenda, something the president said &ldquo;lightweight&rdquo; Massie had failed to do.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4488177\/blake-moore-redistricting-utah-proposition-4-primary-challenger\/\">Blake Moore bucking GOP on redistricting draws heat from Utah primary challenger<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4487927\/white-house-democrats-perverted-war-powers-obstruct-trump\/\">White House says Democrats have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-white-house-is-fed-up-with-dems-war-powers-resolutions\/\" title=\"The White House is fed up with Dems&#039; war powers resolutions\">perverted war powers law<\/a> to obstruct Trump<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4487989\/anna-paulina-luna-donald-trump-senate-endorsements-save-act-john-thune\/\">Luna urges Trump to halt endorsements until SAVE America Act passes Senate<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a new ad campaign, Massie suggested Gallrein&rsquo;s record proves he hasn&rsquo;t always stood on Trump&rsquo;s side. Gallrein changed his registration from Republican to independent in 2016, just weeks after Trump was announced as the GOP&rsquo;s presumptive nominee for president, according to voter registration records obtained by Massie&rsquo;s campaign.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The ad showcasing Gallrein&rsquo;s apparent flip began airing on Wednesday, the day Trump is expected to visit Massie&rsquo;s district in support of Gallrein, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.courier-journal.com\/story\/News\/politics\/elections\/2026\/03\/10\/thomas-massie-ed-gallrein-primary-donald-trump-party-affiliation\/89082736007\/?gnt-cfr=1&amp;gca-cat=p&amp;gca-uir=true&amp;gca-epti=z118921p119750l004450c119750e1125xxv118921d--84--b--84--&amp;gca-ft=167&amp;gca-ds=sophi\">according to<\/a> the <em>Courier Journal<\/em>. Massie changed his registration back to Republican in 2021 when he decided to run for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/impossible-gop-picked-up-seats-in-house-picked-up-state-legislatures-picked-up-governorship-held-the-senate-but-sniffy-joe-won-not-a-chance\/\" title=\"IMPOSSIBLE: ... Picked Up Seats in House, Picked Up State Legislatures, Picked Up Governorship, Held the Senate -- But Sniffy Joe Won?... NOT A CHANCE\">state senate<\/a>, about five months after then-President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"471\">Joe Biden<\/a> was inaugurated, according to the records.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Gallrein&rsquo;s campaign&nbsp;said the candidate &ldquo;briefly changed registration out of frustration with the broken system Congressman Massie created in his district, which hurt the Republican Party, and he is proud to stand with President Trump and true conservative Republicans.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Massie&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MassieforKY\/status\/2031442866308882822\">ad campaign<\/a> claims &ldquo;Woke Ed Gallrein abandoned President Trump&rsquo;s Republican Party, a dereliction of his MAGA duty &hellip; [making him] a Trump traitor.&rdquo; Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who, like Massie, have been known to buck the president, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/randpaul\/status\/2031463091968364768\">lauded<\/a> the ad. Greene <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FmrRepMTG\/status\/2031450818591764715\">mocked the timing<\/a> of Trump&rsquo;s visit to back Gallrein, saying, &ldquo;Trump is going to KY to endorse a true Never Trumper.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4486890\/house-gop-affordability-election-message-trump-iran-save-america-act\/\"><strong>REPUBLICANS GAME OUT 2026 MESSAGING PLAN AS TRUMP FOCUSES ON IRAN AND SAVE AMERICA ACT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s move to endorse Gallrein came after Massie clashed with the president on a variety of issues. Massie has emerged as a loud critic of Trump&rsquo;s military intervention against Venezuela and Iran, and was one of only two Republicans to vote against the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >president&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s signature Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer due to fiscal concerns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I predict that &lsquo;Representative&rsquo; Thomas Massie will go down as the WORST Republican Congressman in the long and fabled history of the United States Congress,&rdquo; Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116210369394250268\">wrote in a <\/a>Wednesday morning post to Truth Social. &ldquo;Massie, who is running against a great American Patriot in the Kentucky Primary, will hopefully lose BIG. I LOVE KENTUCKY!!!&rdquo;<\/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>Massie slams Gallrein; Trump-backed GOP clash<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2578668,"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\/09\/AP25247658427717.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[75574,13348,5656,4850,3634],"class_list":["post-2578667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2016-2","tag-endorsement","tag-maga","tag-massie","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/AP25247658427717.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578667","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=2578667"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578667\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2578671,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578667\/revisions\/2578671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2578668"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}