Trump’s Target: Will Thomas Massie Be the Next Republican Casualty in Kentucky’s Primary?

Translation result [Herald Business=Reporter Lee Won-yul] President Donald Trump has again targeted incumbent Republican lawmakers with whom he has a strained relationship — and he scored another victory.

According to Yonhap News, Republican U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie received 45.6% of the vote as of 9 p.m., with 74.0% of precincts reporting in the GOP primary for Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District on the 19th (local time). His elimination from the race now appears likely.

Although counting was not complete, the Associated Press described Massie’s primary loss as all but certain, and most U.S. outlets, including NBC, reported that his defeat was expected, Yonhap said.

Massie was running for re-election in the November midterms but first needed to clear the primary. He is seen as a libertarian-leaning Republican and has publicly criticized some of President Trump’s actions, including opposing a potential war with Iran.

With Massie likely out, the candidate backed by Trump, Ed Gallein, has emerged as the probable Republican nominee.

Trump had publicly derided Massie as “the worst congressman” and “lazy,” urging voters to remove him from office.

As such, the primary result was viewed as a barometer of Trump’s hold on the Republican Party.

In an earlier Louisiana primary, Senator Bill Cassidy — whom Trump labeled a “traitor” — finished third despite the advantage of incumbency and failed even to reach a runoff.

Cassidy was one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump at his impeachment trial following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Meanwhile, a day before the Kentucky primary, Trump again attacked Massie. On his social platform Truth Social, he wrote, “Thomas Massie is the worst congressman in the long and storied history of the Republican Party,” mocking him as “a troublemaker and a fool.”

He urged, “Vote him out tomorrow, Tuesday. It will be a truly meaningful day for America.”

According to Politico, Yonhap reported that spending to defeat Massie in the Kentucky GOP House primary topped 48 billion KRW (about 32 million USD) — the largest amount ever spent in a House primary. Much of that funding reportedly came from pro-Israel groups.

Separately, the involvement of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a campaign event supporting Gallein drew controversy ahead of the primary.