{"id":2603751,"date":"2026-05-17T15:05:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T19:05:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-taunts-panicked-trump-aipac-for-going-all-in-on-kentucky-primary\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T15:06:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T19:06:22","slug":"massie-taunts-panicked-trump-aipac-for-going-all-in-on-kentucky-primary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/massie-taunts-panicked-trump-aipac-for-going-all-in-on-kentucky-primary\/","title":{"rendered":"Massie taunts &#8216;panicked&#8217; Trump, AIPAC for going all in on Kentucky primary"},"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\">24<\/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-taunts-panicked-trump-aipac-for-going-all-in-on-kentucky-primary%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=2603751&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>Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) says he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kelli-ward-reelected-as-ariz-gop-chairwoman\/\" title=\"Kelli Ward reelected as Ariz. GOP chairwoman\">remains strong<\/a> in his reelection bid despite the recent loss of sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), arguing that President Donald Trump and outside forces are \u201cdesperate\u201d to unseat him.Massie points to Trump\u2019s attention on him, as well as major pro-israel spending-especially from groups such as AIPAC-and claims multiple wealthy donors are funneling millions into the race.<\/p>\n<p>Massie, an eight-term incumbent, is facing 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 ...s. unsupportive of President Trump\">primary challenge<\/a> from Trump-endorsed Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, and the contest is described as one of the most expensive house primaries ever. Massie has previously clashed with Trump over issues including the release of the Epstein files and opposition to a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >major fiscal package<\/a>, and he has criticized U.S. aid to Israel. He credits outside funding for close margins and argues that Trump\u2019s endorsement is becoming a key factor, citing the president\u2019s strong performance in Kentucky in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Polling shows Massie leading only by single digits, with Gallrein taking the lead in at least one recent survey, while Massie continues to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pelosi-says-cuomo-should-look-inside-heart-to-decide-if-he-should-resign\/\" title=\"Pelosi says Cuomo should look inside heart to decide if he should resign\">deny allegations<\/a> from his ex-girlfriend. On Sunday, Massie also portrayed the opposition as \u201cpanicked,\u201d saying Trump\u2019s posts end up driving money toward his campaign.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"17668\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) is remaining staunch in his reelection bid in the wake of Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2103\">Bill Cassidy\u2019s<\/a> (R-LA) loss on Tuesday, saying President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> is acting \u201cdesperate\u201d in his attempt to replace him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can tell that I\u2019m ahead in the polls, and they\u2019re desperate. That\u2019s why they\u2019re sending the secretary of war to my district tomorrow. That\u2019s why the president\u2019s losing sleep and tweeting about this. That\u2019s why <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aipac\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2620\">AIPAC<\/a> has dumped another $3 million into my race this weekend,\u201d Massie said on ABC\u2019s <em>This Week<\/em>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571925\/trump-thomas-massie-worse-bill-cassidy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump calls Thomas Massie \u2018worse\u2019 than Bill Cassidy after senator\u2019s primary defeat<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4571910\/lindsey-graham-lose-job-iran-war-midterms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham says it\u2019s \u2018worth losing my job\u2019 for non-nuclear Iran as midterms loom<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571847\/trump-revenge-tour-massie-kentucky-primary\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump revenge tour barrels toward Massie with Cassidy and Indiana in its wake<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Massie, an eight-term incumbent who has sparred with Trump over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571017\/massie-anti-establishment-brand-trump-backlash\/\">his insistence on the<\/a> full release of the Epstein files and his fiscal hawk no-vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is being challenged by Trump-endorsed Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein. The Gallrein-Massie primary is one of the closest-watched primaries of the year and has also become the most expensive race in House history, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/05\/17\/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375\">according<\/a> to <em>Politico<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571847\/trump-revenge-tour-massie-kentucky-primary\/\"><strong>TRUMP REVENGE TOUR BARRELS TOWARD MASSIE WITH CASSIDY AND INDIANA IN ITS WAKE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Massie has blamed billionaires and the pro-Israel lobby <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4558355\/massie-kentucky-house-primary-israel-spending\/\">for the close margins<\/a> in his race, saying groups such as AIPAC and people like Israeli-American businesswoman Miriam Adelson are\u00a0spending \u201c$10 million\u201d against his campaign. Massie has been a frequent critic of U.S. aid to Israel.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow did this race become the most expensive race in the history of Congress for a primary? It\u2019s because three billionaires from outside of Kentucky have funneled millions of dollars in here, they\u2019re trying to buy a seat,\u201d Massie said on Sunday, pointing to Adelson and hedge-fund manager Paul Singer.<\/p>\n<p>But <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571847\/trump-revenge-tour-massie-kentucky-primary\/\">Trump\u2019s endorsement has proven it means a lot<\/a> this year, particularly in the primary challenges against state senators in Indiana who voted against GOP redistricting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571020\/cassidy-loses-reelection-campaign\/\">and against Cassidy<\/a>, who voted to convict Trump on impeachment charges in 2021. Trump\u2019s backing alone could end up being the turning point in the Kentucky primary, as the president won the state with 64.5% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTom 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,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4571925\/trump-thomas-massie-worse-bill-cassidy\/\">on Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Though Massie has led by single digits in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/soros-funded-pac-labels-black-republican-an-uncle-tom-in-campaign-ad-skinfolk-aint-kinfolk\/\" title=\"Soros-backed PAC calls Black GOP member &#039;Uncle Tom&#039; in ad: &#039;Skinfolk \u2260 Kinfolk&#039;\">limited polling<\/a> throughout the race, Gallrein took the lead last week, according to a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4566906\/gallrein-lead-massie-latest-kentucky-primary-poll\/\">Quantus Insights poll<\/a>. Massie has won every primary challenge since entering Congress with over 70% of the vote. The poll came as Massie denies allegations from his ex-girlfriend that he offered her <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4565984\/ex-girlfriend-cynthia-west-thomas-massie-offering-cash-drop-complaint-against-ally\/\">thousands of dollars<\/a> to drop a wrongful termination complaint against his House ally, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN).<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4564391\/what-to-watch-kentucky-2026-primary-elections\/\">WHAT TO WATCH FOR IN KENTUCKY\u2019S 2026 PRIMARY ELECTIONS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But Massie called the forces against him \u201cpanicked\u201d on Sunday. He blasted Trump for posting on Truth Social about him saying he could \u201csustain\u201d Trump\u2019s posts \u201cwithout a problem,\u201d and called the funding wars the real threat to his reelection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery time he tweets about me, it\u2019s good for some money coming in, because people don\u2019t like that,\u201d Massie said on Sunday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rep. Thomas Massie says Trump is \u201cdesperate\u201d to replace him after Cassidy\u2019s loss<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3976,"featured_media":2603752,"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\/2026\/05\/AP26125493734321.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[33006,32319,4850,5894],"class_list":["post-2603751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aipac","tag-donald-trump","tag-massie","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26125493734321.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603751","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\/3976"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2603751"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2603755,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2603751\/revisions\/2603755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2603751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2603751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2603751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}