By Ken Thomas and Natalie Andrews

HEBRON, Ky. -- President Trump heaped scorn on longtime GOP nemesis Rep. Thomas Massie in a speech in the congressman's Kentucky district Wednesday, about two months ahead of one of the most closely watched Republican midterm primaries.

"Thomas Massie is a disaster for our party," Trump said. "We got to get rid of this loser, this guy is bad."

Trump was joined on stage by his handpicked candidate for Massie's seat, Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and farmer who unsuccessfully ran for state Senate in 2024. The visit, in which Trump talked up his economic policies, shows how intently he wants to oust one his few remaining GOP critics in Congress.

Trump and Massie have clashed repeatedly during the past year, most prominently over the congressman's push to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Massie, alongside Democrats and a handful of other Republicans, forced a vote on the files. Trump opposed the release but then agreed to sign the measure into law once it became clear the bill would pass both chambers.

Massie has continued to jab Trump over the issue, and has also staunchly opposed the Iran war. He also voted last year against Trump's "big, beautiful" tax and spending law.

"He's disloyal to the Republican Party, he's disloyal to the people of Kentucky, and most importantly he is disloyal to the United States of America and he's got to be voted out of the office as soon as possible," Trump said.

So far this cycle, Massie's campaign and a pro-Massie super PAC, Kentucky First PAC, have spent about $3.1 million on ads, according to AdImpact.

The MAGA KY super PAC, backed by hedge-fund billionaires Paul Singer and John Paulson and a group funded by Miriam Adelson, started running ads against Massie last year to try to soften him up for the primary. So far, MAGA KY and another super PAC, the pro-Israel RJC Victory Fund, have spent about $3.6 million on ads to oust Massie, the AdImpact data shows.

Trump has frequently touted Gallrein on social media and the challenger picked up an endorsement last month from Rep. Andy Barr, a Republican seeking the U.S. Senate nomination in a crowded primary to succeed former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Gallrein thanked the president for his endorsement onstage. "Once you did that, my support skyrocketed," he said, asserting that Massie "stands with the ladies of 'The View,'" referring to the ABC talk show.

Massie has questioned Gallrein's MAGA credentials, calling him "Woke Ed, " and the congressman highlighted that Gallrein left the Republican Party for several years.

The incumbent maintains a loyal base of supporters in his northern Kentucky district, which stretches from communities outside Louisville to the suburbs of Cincinnati and eastern parts of the state. He easily pushed back minor primary challenges in the 2022 and 2024 elections, winning with about 75% in both contests.

"He's got that trust with people," said Steve Doan, a Republican state legislator who supports Massie. "We know that he doesn't always go with the party, but he usually has a good reason."

But outside Trump's event, many of the president's supporters said Gallrein would benefit from the president's endorsement in the May 19 primary, and present the kind of challenger that Massie hasn't faced before.

"I think Massie has turned colors over the last couple of years -- he's kind of changed his ways ," said Tyson Riley, a Union, Ky., information technology executive who waited outside the Trump event.

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 11, 2026 19:25 ET (23:25 GMT)

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