President Donald Trump has branded Republican congressman Thomas Massie a “total loser” after Massie lost his primary election in Kentucky. Massie, who had led efforts to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, was defeated by Ed Gallrein, a farmer and former US Navy Seal backed by Trump.
Trump’s victory in the primary demonstrates his continued dominance over the Republican Party, despite a shrinking base. The president’s allies, however, may be drawing false hope from the result, as Trump commands fierce loyalty from a base that is diminishing.
Massie’s ousting after nearly 14 years in office was the most expensive House primary in history. Trump had branded Massie a “moron”, “nut job”, and “major sleazebag”, and dispatched top strategists to support Gallrein. The defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, also campaigned against Massie.
In his concession speech, Massie quipped: “I would have come out sooner but I had to call my opponent to concede and it took a while to find him in Tel Aviv.” The comment referenced accusations of antisemitism and opposition from pro-Israel groups, which spent millions against him.
Trump also secured victories elsewhere in Kentucky, with Andy Barr winning the Senate nomination to replace Mitch McConnell. The outcomes underscore Trump’s political resilience within the party, where his approval rating remains at 82%.
