Congressman Thomas Massie, one of the most vocal critics of United States President Donald Trump, has lost his primary race to Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in a major political victory for the Republican leader. Massie had angered Trump by publicly opposing military action against Iran and sponsoring a bill that resulted in the release of files linked to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and resisting parts of the president's agenda. His defeat in the most expensive US House of Representatives primary race in history highlighted Trump's continued influence over the Republican Party and the political risks faced by Republicans who break with him.
REPORTER: Mr. President, you've pushed to suppress the federal gas tax. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Yeah. REPORTER: Are there other initiatives that you're thinking of (CROSSTALK) to try to lower costs PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, there may be. It's very temporary. Yeah, there may be. Anything to keep it down. Look, as soon as this war is over, gas is going to. You know, I had gasoline down to $1.85 cents in Iowa. I was in Iowa and the stations had it at $1 and 85 cents.
Ed Gallrein, a retired navy Seal and farmer who was recruited into the race by Trump, defeated the seven-term incumbent in a primary election in Kentucky's fourth congressional district in what the president's allies framed as a test of whether dissent could still exist inside today's Republican party.
Massie, who held his seat for fourteen years, lost the most expensive primary race in history to former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, with Trump's pick gaining about 55% of the vote. The historic race saw the president ramp up his efforts to punish his critics, attacking Massie consistently while his allies and pro-Israel groups poured millions into anti-Massie ad spending in the state.
Massie took a swipe at Trump during his concession speech on Tuesday evening, criticizing the president for building a White House ballroom while many Americans were struggling to pay their bills. While gas is almost five dollars, and diesel is almost six dollars, th
Obviously, you're doing an incredible job. Patel has come under scrutiny after reports about his alleged excessive drinking and use of the FBI's jet. Last month, The Atlantic published an explosive report saying Patel had thought President Donald Trump fired him after he believed he had been locked out of an FBI computer system. That report also stated that members of his security detail had difficulty waking Patel because he was seemingly intoxicated, according to information supplied to Justice Department and White House officials.
Appearing for the first time before a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday, a hearing scheduled to ask him about the Justice Department's 2027 budget, Blanche was asked by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) about whether the DOJ would be continuing to release, say, the alleged reams of Epstein files and details not yet released. He replied with some good ol' political amnesia.
