Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) sharply criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for traveling to Kentucky to campaign while the United States remains at war with Iran. In an interview with NewsNation's Chris Cuomo aired Thursday, Boebert expressed frustration over the administration's focus on foreign policy ahead of the midterm elections.
“These foreign issues that we are facing are not my top priority,” Boebert said. “I understand that the president is tackling them hard. I praised him for his work in Venezuela, I praised him for the initial strikes in Iran.” However, she added, “It’s really tough to defend all the aspects of this war with Iran currently, especially when we see the Secretary of War doing campaign events in Kentucky, of all places, in the middle of a war. That’s really difficult to grasp.”
Hegseth's Kentucky Visit
Hegseth traveled to the Bluegrass State on Monday to campaign for Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL challenging incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie in Tuesday's Republican primary. The race was widely viewed as a test of President Donald Trump's influence within the party. Hegseth emphasized that his visit was personal, noting federal restrictions on campaigning by government employees.
Massie, a libertarian-leaning MIT-trained engineer, has broken with Trump on key issues, including the Epstein files and the Iran war, which he argued violated the president's “America First” pledge. In response, Trump endorsed Gallrein, who vowed loyalty. The primary became one of the most expensive in U.S. history, fueled by pro-Israel and Trump-aligned groups seeking to oust Massie.
“President Trump does not need more people in Washington who are trying to make a point, especially from his own party,” Hegseth told Kentucky voters. “He needs people trying to help him win, to vote with him when it matters most.” He added, “When President Trump needs backup, Massie wants to debate process.”
Election Outcome
Gallrein defeated Massie with approximately 55% of the roughly 105,000 votes cast. In his concession speech, Massie quipped, “I would have come out sooner but it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv.” Gallrein thanked Trump for his “support, his endorsement and his counsel” and for his “courageous leadership of our nation.”
Boebert told Cuomo she was “sad” to see Massie lose, noting he is a close friend. The Iran war remains paused under a fragile ceasefire after several failed negotiations. The conflict, which began in February, has caused widespread violence in the Middle East and driven up global fuel prices. Recent polls show a majority of Americans oppose the war.
