President Trump thwarted one of his biggest critics in Congress on Tuesday when Republican rival Thomas Massie was soundly defeated in a Kentucky primary.
Massie – a persistent critic of Trump over the Iran war and the Epstein files – lost his bid for reelection to Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein.
Massie’s defeat followed a slew of losses for anti-Trump Republicans in primaries over the past few weeks – setting the stage for a brutal midterm showdown with Democrats.
Trump had recruited Gallrein to run against Massie in the primary, throwing MAGA’s full support behind the candidate, including an endorsement from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Massie – who was just one of two Republicans to vote against Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill last year – had garnered just 45.2 percent of the vote against Gallrein’s 54.8 percent.
The message from the White House was loud and clear: ‘Do not ever doubt President Trump and his political power.’
Trump’s assistant Communications Director Steven Cheung added, ‘F*** around, find out.’
Massie – a persistent critic of Trump over the Iran war and the Epstein files – lost his bid for reelection on Tuesday
Former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein received an endorsement from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
The message from the White House was loud and clear after Massie’s loss
‘Trump once again proved his power in the GOP,’ Trey Grayson, a Republican former Kentucky secretary of state told Politico.
Josh McKoon, the chair of the Georgia Republican Party told the outlet, ‘The most valuable asset or currency in Republican primaries… is having the endorsement of Donald Trump.’
Activist Laura Loomer reacted to Massie’s defeat by targeting his longtime ally, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, writing on X, ‘Rand Paul, You’re next.’
Massie’s precipitous downfall came after a slate of Indiana state senators lost their reelection bids after Trump vowed revenge for opposing a redrawn congressional map that would award two more seats to Republicans.
Trump, in a Truth Social post prior to his defeat, called Massie ‘the worst and most unreliable Republican Congressman in the history of our Country.’
Trump adviser James Blair said that Massie and others should consider supporting their party over idealistic ambitions.
‘Sometimes you can vote your feelings, but sometimes you need to vote with the party,’ Blair told CNN earlier this month.
‘As the elected party leader, the President gets to decide which vote is which, and he is always clear and up front about it. Nobody should be surprised about any of this.’
Meanwhile, Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy – who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 – sensationally lost his bid for a third term on Saturday when he placed third in a primary.
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Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy – who voted to impeach Trump in 2021 – sensationally lost his bid for a third term on Saturday
Cheney was ousted after becoming a fierce advocate for Kamala Harris on the campaign trail
Trump excoriated Cassidy in a post on Truth Social after the devastating loss.
‘Bill Cassidy, after falsely using his “relationship” with me during his political career, and winning Elections because of it, voted to impeach me on preposterous charges that were fake then, and now, are criminally insane!’ Trump posted late Saturday.
‘His disloyalty to the man who got him elected is now a part of legend, and it’s nice to see that his political career is OVER!’
The revenge tour from Trump echoed past defeats of Republican politicians who have crossed him.
Former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney – daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney – was ousted from office in a 2022 primary after criticizing the president.
Another scalp for Trump was former ally Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Georgia congressman split with Trump over the Epstein files and foreign entanglements.
Now-former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican, talks on the phone in the Rose Garden at the White House on May 1, 2025 in Washington, DC
‘The American people aren’t motivated by foreign wars or bailouts for other countries,’ she wrote on X in November 2025.
‘They want leaders who show up, do the job, and fight for them every single day!’
Taylor Greene announced her resignation from office in November of 2025.
Despite Trump’s ironclad grip on Republicans, the party faces a bruising battle to maintain their razor thin margins in both the House and Senate.
The president’s overall approval rating has fallen to around 35 percent.
Polls have shown the American public disapproves of rising costs including oil due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.
But Republicans – buoyed by the latest wins – remained optimistic that Trump could lead them to victory.
‘The 2026 midterms will come down to one simple question,’ Joseph Wood, chair of the Arkansas Republican Party, told NBC News. ‘Who is delivering real results for the American people?’
