Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, known for his lone-wolf opposition to party leadership, is facing strong opposition from President Donald Trump and his allies, who are planning to support a primary challenger against him in 2026.
The conflict has grown after Massie’s recent attempts to limit presidential war powers and his votes against key Republican legislation.
According to Politico, Trump’s political team has created a super PAC called Kentucky MAGA, led by Chris LaCivita and Tony Fabrizio, specifically to defeat Massie. The president has promised to campaign ‘really hard’ against the congressman and has been using social media to attack him, calling him a ‘LOSER’ and urging voters to remove him from office, demonstrating the intimidation tactics that have become his trademark approach to party discipline.
“In 2020, I got my Trump antibodies from a natural infection when he came after me, and I survived,” Massie told reporters on Tuesday, showing his confidence despite the threats. The congressman has been using the conflict to his advantage, raising approximately $120,000 in just 24 hours from supporters, demonstrating the same independence that has made him a target of Trump’s wrath.
Trump allies prepare to spend millions to defeat Massie
Political experts suggest that the campaign against Massie could see unprecedented spending levels, with estimates reaching up to $45 million for the primary contest. This includes potential contributions from AIPAC, a prominent pro-Israel group, which has previously opposed Massie.
The six-term congressman has faced challenges before but has maintained a strong hold on his district. His closest primary race was in 2012 when he first ran for Congress, and since then, he has won his primaries with at least 60 percent of the vote.
Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, which stretches along the northern border with Ohio and Indiana, has traditionally supported Massie’s independent political style. The area is known for its “liberty faction” of Republican voters who support both Trump and libertarian-leaning politicians like Massie and Senator Rand Paul.
Several potential challengers are being considered for the primary, including state Representative Aaron Reed, a retired Navy SEAL, and state Representative Kimberly Moser. Some political experts believe that, despite Trump’s influence, defeating Massie will not be easy without the right candidate. Even House Speaker Mike Johnson has been careful about taking sides, though he expressed understanding for Trump’s frustration with Massie.
Published: Jun 25, 2025 12:07 pm