Trump Endorses Potential Massie Challenger

President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is endorsing Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to challenge Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie.

Trump has repeatedly criticized Massie in recent months, issuing a warning that he and his team would primary the Republican representative. In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump called Massie a “Third Rate Congressman” and a “Weak and Pathetic RINO,” stating he must be “thrown out of office, ASAP” before announcing his endorsement of Gallrein.

“The incredible people of Kentucky’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,” Trump wrote. “A Brave Combat Veteran, Ed knows the Wisdom and Courage required to Defend our Country, Support our Military/Veterans, and Ensure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”

While Gallrein has not officially announced his run against Massie, Trump said he hopes the Navy SEAL enters the race, adding that if he does, he has the president’s “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

“I hope Ed gets into the Race against Massie, who is now polling at about 9% because the Great People of Kentucky are wise to him — He only votes against the Republican Party, making life very easy for the Radical Left,” Trump added. “RUN, ED, RUN — MAGA!”

In a statement provided to the Daily Caller News Foundation, Massie told the outlet that Trump’s “consultants clearly pushed the panic button” on their choice of who should challenge him. The lawmaker additionally pointed the DCNF to a clip of Gallrein, who resides in Massie’s district, during a radio interview in July, stating that he would be “honored and privileged to serve” if there was a specific race where he was needed.

“After having been rejected by every elected official in the 4th District, Trump’s consultants clearly pushed the panic button with their choice of failed candidate and establishment hack Ed Gallrein. Ed’s been begging them to pick him for over three months now,” Massie told the DCNF.

Massie publicly criticized the president’s strikes against Iran in June, calling the decision unconstitutional in a series of tweets. Just before that, he joined Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna in introducing a resolution to prevent Trump from engaging in “unauthorized hostilities” with Iran.

In addition to opposing the strikes on Iran, Massie also joined a discharge petition in September to advance the “Epstein Files Transparency Act,” teaming up with three other Republican representatives and 213 Democrats in the effort.

In response, Trump blasted the lawmaker on Truth Social, with his political operation later launching an effort to oust Massie from his seat, according to Axios. Despite their clashes, the Republican has successfully fended off primary challengers in the last three election cycles.