Trump Allies Launch Campaign to Oust GOP Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky
Former President Donald Trump and his top advisers are preparing a fierce campaign to unseat one of his most outspoken Republican critics: Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.
House GOP leaders are making it clear they won’t step in to defend Massie, who has represented Northeastern Kentucky for nearly 13 years. Instead, Speaker Mike Johnson and his team have openly criticized Massie for undermining party priorities, signaling that he’ll have to fight for reelection without leadership support.
GOP Leaders Distance Themselves
In interviews, multiple GOP leaders declined to endorse Massie’s reelection bid. Speaker Johnson said Massie “is actively working against his team almost daily now” and has brought attacks on himself. Johnson also blasted Massie’s push to force a vote to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, which the White House and party leaders strongly oppose.
Massie argues the public deserves transparency and insists Trump is trying to protect political allies from embarrassment. “If they think voting on transparency is hard, that’s their problem,” he said.
Trump Hunting for Challenger
Trump’s team is searching for a strong conservative candidate to challenge Massie in the May primary. State Sen. Aaron Reed, a former Navy SEAL, has met with Trump about a potential run, though no official endorsement has been made. Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Kentucky, has already reserved $1.6 million in ad spending against Massie, with much more expected.
Pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC, are also planning to pour millions into the race, frustrated with Massie’s record of opposing U.S. support for Israel.
Massie Pushes Back
Despite the mounting pressure, Massie says he’s confident about his reelection chances. He has fended off challengers before in his rugged, conservative district, often referred to as the “Wild West” of Kentucky politics. Still, his critics say this time could be different with Trump’s full backing against him.
Massie has long built a reputation as a libertarian-minded maverick, regularly opposing big spending bills from both parties. He also tried to oust Speaker Johnson last year, further alienating House leadership.
A Divided GOP
While Trump loyalists are lining up against Massie, not all Republicans want to see him gone. Sen. Rand Paul, another Kentucky libertarian, praised Massie as a “man of principle” who consistently fights against runaway deficits.
Others in the House GOP, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, support his Epstein files push but worry his personal feud with Trump has gone too far. Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said she agrees with Massie on transparency but criticized his confrontational approach with Trump.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew echoed that sentiment, saying Massie “chose his bed, now he has to lie in it.”
High Stakes Ahead
Massie’s district spans four media markets across three states, making it one of the most expensive in Kentucky. That could give Trump’s well-funded allies a significant advantage.
Republicans point to Trump’s successful effort last year to oust Rep. Bob Good of Virginia as proof of his power to shape primaries. Many expect the Massie vs. MAGA fight to be even more bruising given Massie’s repeated clashes with Trump and his opposition to the former president’s flagship policies.
As one senior GOP lawmaker put it: “Never underestimate Trump’s grip on the base. But the candidate still matters. This isn’t a referendum — it’s an election.”