Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hit the campaign trail Monday for Ed Gallrein, saying President Trump needs more “war fighters” on Capitol Hill who will fall in line.
Mr. Gallrein is running to unseat Rep. Thomas Massie in a race that is shaping up to be the biggest primary test of Mr. Trump’s control over the Republican Party. With nearly $33 million in ad spending, the Kentucky contest is the most expensive House primary on record, according to AdImpact, an independent ad tracker.
Voters will have the final say on Tuesday.
Mr. Massie has been a persistent thorn in Mr. Trump’s side, bucking the president on his signature spending bill, criticizing military strikes on Iran and raising concerns about foreign aid to Israel — a record that has made him a top target for deep-pocketed Trump-aligned Republicans heading into the primary.
“Kentucky has a choice in this race: You can send a warrior reinforcements for the president in our shared fight against the radical left, or you can send an obstructionist,” Mr. Hegseth said. “In my mind, it’s an easy choice.”
“We need reinforcement from Republicans, and that fight requires a Congress full of warriors, including Ed,” he said. “This one, ladies and gentlemen, is a no-brainer.”
Mr. Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and Bronze Star recipient, cast himself as a Trump loyalist who would deliver results where Mr. Massie has not. “There has never been a more important time to stand behind our President, President Trump, and the courageous leaders he has put in place to fight for the future of the United States military,” Mr. Gallrein said.
Mr. Massie’s independent streak and willingness to buck Mr. Trump’s wishes have put a massive target on his back.
The Kentucky Republican helped spearhead the effort to force the government to release more of the Epstein files, and opposed Mr. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” because it would further balloon the national debt. He has also criticized the Trump administration’s military adventurism, particularly in Iran, and raised concerns about taxpayer money being funneled to allies such as Israel.
Mr. Trump escalated his attacks on Mr. Massie on Sunday, calling him “a weak and pathetic RINO” on Truth Social and demanding he “must be thrown out of office, asap!” The president threw his full support behind Mr. Gallrein, describing him as a “Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, and fifth-generation Kentucky farmer” and “a true America First Patriot.” “A brave combat veteran, Ed knows the wisdom and courage required to defend our country, support our military/veterans, and ensure peace through strength,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Mr. Massie shrugged off the attacks in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, saying the president’s posts were good for fundraising.
“Every time he tweets about me, it’s good for some money coming in because people don’t like that,” Mr. Massie said.
The congressman also pushed back on the notion that Mr. Trump’s opposition spells his defeat, saying the grassroots support for his campaign reflects a race closer than his opponents want to admit. “They’re panicked,” Mr. Massie said, pointing to Mr. Hegseth’s visit and a last-minute $3 million ad buy from AIPAC as signs of desperation. “That’s why they’re sending the secretary of war to my district.”
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