President Donald Trump is throwing the full weight of his political machine against Rep. Thomas Massie in Tuesday's Kentucky Republican primary, turning the congressional race into the most expensive and consequential loyalty test of his second term.
More than $29 million has been spent on advertising alone in the contest, making it one of the costliest primary battles in American history, and the extraordinary sum reflects how personally Trump has taken Massie's repeated defiance — and how badly the president wants to make an example of him, reported CNN.
“You can’t escape it, it’s everywhere,” said Joni Pugh – who backs both Trump and Massie – of the advertising onslaught purchased with that campaign cash. “That’s what really worries me. I’m afraid [Massie] won’t make it this time. I don’t think he’s ever gone through anything like this.”
Trump personally recruited challenger Ed Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL, in the Oval Office last October and urged him to run, and a week later Gallrein announced his candidacy. Trump then traveled to Kentucky in March to publicly anoint him, offering a characteristically backhanded endorsement: "Give me somebody with a warm body to beat Massie."
The message from the White House has been unambiguous. After Trump-backed candidates defeated Republicans who defied him in Indiana last week, senior adviser Chris LaCivita posted a three-word warning to Massie on X: "You are next."
What has Massie done to earn such presidential wrath? He voted against Trump's signature "One Big Beautiful Bill," pushed to release the Jeffrey Epstein files after Trump called the issue a Democratic hoax, and has been among the loudest Republican critics of the Iran war. In Trump's words, delivered at the National Prayer Breakfast, Massie is a "moron" who just "loves voting no."
Yet on the ground in Kentucky's 4th Congressional District, something is cutting against the presidential onslaught – people genuinely like their congressman, CNN found.
"I've known him all my life and I'll be voting for him because of what kind of person he is," said Kenny Claxon, a retired restaurant owner in Vanceburg. "It doesn't matter what Trump or anybody else says."
Another voter said the attacks may even backfire.
"I'll vote for Thomas because Trump's giving him such a hard time," said Ramona Bivens, holding a cigarette as she ate a hot dog at a Garrison diner. "I just think it's silly."