Representative Thomas Massie is heading into Tuesday’s primary with strong confidence, even as President Donald Trump continues to attack him on Truth Social. The Kentucky Republican has served in the House since 2012 and is currently facing Ed Gallrein in what has been called the most expensive House primary in American history. Rather than feeling threatened by the President’s attention, Massie sees it as proof that he is winning.
Speaking on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, Massie told host George Stephanopoulos that the attacks from his opponents are a sign of where he stands in the race. “You can tell that I’m ahead in the polls and they’re desperate,” Massie said. He pointed to strong fundraising and steady support from his base as reasons for his confidence.
According to Politico, Massie said millions of dollars have come in from grassroots supporters, with tens of thousands of donors contributing through his website, thomasmassie.com, and that the money keeps coming in.
Massie’s long history of breaking ranks with Trump makes him a target, but his voters don’t seem to mind
Meanwhile, Trump has made removing Massie from office a clear priority, backing challenger Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and fifth-generation farmer. On Sunday morning, Trump wrote, “The Worst Republican Congressman in History. Kentucky, vote the bum out on Tuesday. We can’t live with this troublemaker for another two years.”
Massie, an MIT-trained engineer, has frequently clashed with GOP leadership. His difficult relationship with Trump goes back to the first term, when he blocked a Covid relief bill. Since then, the tension has only grown, with Massie going against the President on budget legislation, the release of the Epstein files, and foreign aid.
Trump has deployed every resource available to unseat the disloyal Massie in what has become one of the most aggressive intra-party takedown efforts in recent memory. Massie has said that while he votes with the party 90 percent of the time, he breaks away when he believes it better serves his constituents.
He also sponsored a war powers resolution to stop strikes on Iran, which put him further at odds with the administration. His independent streak has made him a consistent target, but also a consistent fundraiser.
The financial scale of this primary is enormous. More than $32 million has been spent on ads, with most of that money coming from Trump-aligned groups and pro-Israel organizations trying to defeat Massie.
The congressman took a direct shot at the spending during his Sunday interview, pointing to donor Miriam Adelson. “Miriam Adelson has given so much money to my opponent that instead of paying for the ballroom they’re going to need taxpayer money for the ballroom now,” he said, referring to the debate over funding for a new White House ballroom.
While Trump helped push out Senator Bill Cassidy in Louisiana’s Senate race this past Saturday, Massie believes his district will be different. He points to a generational divide in polling, saying younger voters are leaning toward his platform of limited war and an America-first approach.
Critics have also noted that Trump’s approach to cutting diplomatic staff and filling roles with allies has raised broader concerns about how the administration handles dissent and loyalty. He frames this election as a bigger statement about the direction of the Republican Party as a whole.
Despite being called a “pathetic LOSER,” a “lightweight,” and a “sick Wacko” by the President, Massie has remained calm and unbothered. He noted that he and Trump have worked together before and expects that to continue after the election. With voting in its final hours, Massie is banking on his grassroots base to carry him through, though whether that support is enough to overcome the massive financial push behind Gallrein is still an open question.
Published: May 18, 2026 12:48 pm