Shelbyville Republican Ed Gallrein, left, takes a photo with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. (Photo provided by Gallrein campaign)
A Shelbyville Republican who President Donald Trump publicly endorsed to challenge Kentucky U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie last week formally entered the race Tuesday.
However, Massie says he remains committed to being an “independent conservative voice” for voters in the state’s 4th Congressional District.
Trump introduced Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and businessman, to national politics last week with a lengthy post to Truth Social, encouraging him to unseat Massie. The incumbent congressman has become a thorn in the side of the president, opposing him on prominent issues like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and leading the charge to release the federal investigation files into convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein.
“I’ve dedicated my life to serving my country, and I’m ready to answer the call again,” Gallrein said in a statement Tuesday morning. “This district is Trump Country. The President doesn’t need obstacles in Congress – he needs backup. I’ll defeat Thomas Massie, stand shoulder to shoulder with President Trump, and deliver the America First results Kentuckians voted for.”
The press release from the Gallrein campaign highlighted Trump’s “Complete and Total Endorsement,” which also was highly critical of Massie. Trump said the congressman is “a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES” who “must be thrown out of office, ASAP!”
Gallrein followed the president’s lead, adding that Massie “has become one of the biggest roadblocks to President Trump’s America First agenda” and vowed to stand with Trump.
Leading up to Gallrein’s announcement, a super PAC tied to the president spent more than $1 million on ads against the congressman before a challenger candidate was named.
The Republican primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District is shaping up to pit two wings of the party against each other — Trump Republicans vs. Massie’s Libertarian base.
Since Trump’s endorsement was issued last week, Massie has written Gallrein off as a “failed candidate and establishment hack.” Gallrein lost a competitive Republican primary to state Sen. Aaron Reed in the 7th Senate District last year.
Following Gallrein’s announcement Tuesday, Massie said in a statement to the Kentucky Lantern: “The uniparty in DC finally found someone willing to be a rubber stamp for globalist billionaires, endless debt, foreign aid, and forever wars in failed candidate and Lindsey Graham donor Ed Gallrein.” Massie has been circulating on X a 2020 donation from Gallrein to the South Carolina senator’s campaign committee.
“Fourth district voters appreciate having an independent conservative voice who works for them and I look forward to continuing my fight for transparency, constitutional rights, secure borders, a true America-first foreign policy, and fiscal responsibility,” Massie said.
Later Tuesday afternoon, Trump criticized a Kentucky ally of Massie’s, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, without naming him but said he was missing from a lunch with GOP senators at the White House. Paul endorsed Massie’s reelection bid when the two toured the 4th Congressional District last month.
“We have everybody but one person here,” Trump said. “We’re just missing one person. You’ll never guess who that is. Let me give you — he automatically votes no on everything. He thinks it’s good politics. It’s really not good politics.”
Trump added, “But look, if he wanted to come, I’d probably let him come, right? I’d let him come begrudgingly, but would let him come.”
Paul posted a photo of himself with Massie on X as a response.
“I actually wasn’t invited to the White House lunch today, but that’s ok I had a previously scheduled Liberty Caucus Lunch with
@MassieforKY,” Paul said.
This story was updated with additional information Tuesday afternoon.
