Time Magazine is reporting that Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is testing the reach of President Donald Trump’s influence on the Republican Party as he faces a primary election. Massie, who has stated he has “no Fs to give now,” has defied Trump on several issues, including leading the charge to open the Epstein files, voting against the president’s tax cuts, and criticizing the war in Iran and political money for Israel.
Time said Trump has expressed his ire and is actively engaging in what it describes as “revenge politics.” The magazine reported that Trump dispatched Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to campaign for Ed Gallrein, a dairy farmer and former Navy SEAL challenging Massie for the GOP nomination. This move is considered an unusual breach of protocol, occurring in the middle of a war.
The publication noted that Trump has already exacted revenge on state lawmakers in Indiana for not redrawing congressional maps and tanked Sen. Bill Cassidy’s re-election bid in Louisiana. Cassidy, who voted for Trump’s second impeachment, came in a distant third place in his bid for another term. Time also reported that Trump threatened Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado with a primary challenge for defending Massie.
Time said these intra-party feuds are causing significant financial strain on the Republican Party, with the Kentucky race alone draining at least $14 million from the GOP spending ecosystem. Republican strategists are reportedly concerned about the impact on holding House and Senate majorities in November, especially as Trump’s approval ratings are parked in the 30s. A New York Times poll released Monday showed Democrats with an 11-point lead in generic party preference among registered voters, with a 50% to 39% advantage, and an 18-point edge among independent voters.