Republican congressman Thomas Massie has warned that Donald Trump's party faces a damaging rejection at the ballot box in November after he lost his Kentucky primary to a challenger backed by the president. Massie, a libertarian-leaning representative who frequently broke with Trump on issues including military action against Iran and government spending, was defeated by Ed Gallrein in the most expensive US congressional primary in history.
In an interview on NBC's Meet the Press, Massie said Trump has 'disenfranchised' many of the voters who supported him in 2024, coining the term 'Trump disappointment syndrome' to describe growing discontent on the right. He pointed to constituencies such as 'Make America healthy again' activists, fiscal conservatives, and anti-war voters who have been alienated by the administration's actions.
Massie suggested that his push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, alongside Democratic congressman Ro Khanna, was the 'biggest crime' he committed against the Washington establishment. He claimed that bill was the only one in a decade not written by lobbyists, and that it prompted efforts to remove him. Trump had called Massie a 'moron' and 'loser', and campaigned against him in Kentucky.
Despite his defeat, Massie said he has no regrets and will continue to 'go against the grain' for his remaining seven months in office. 'It was completely worth it,' he said. He warned that the party could pay a heavy price in November, as the disenfranchised voters may stay home or vote against Republican candidates.
Trump celebrated Massie's defeat on Tuesday, calling him 'a bad guy' who 'deserves to lose'. Massie's loss adds to a string of primary defeats for Republicans who have crossed the president, as control of Congress hangs in the balance in the upcoming midterm elections.
