A radical left-wing pro-abortion organization run by a former Biden official has may have put itself in hot water for a stunt that directed women in a state where abortion pills are banned to get access to the deadly drugs.
Attendees at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville looked up over the weekend to see an airplane pulling a banner that read, “Abortion Pills By Mail.” The banner directed viewers to Mayday Health, a New York-based nonprofit that directs women to specific services that covertly ship abortion pills through the mail.
The pro-abortion message from the New York-based Mayday comes as pro-life state lawmakers across the country struggle to combat a flood of activist-provided abortion pills delivered through the mail. Kentucky is one of over a dozen states where medication abortions, administered through the drug mifepristone, are technically against the law.
Mayday&#8217;s latest stunt could land it in legal trouble after Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman said they broke the law.
“It appears abortion activists are flying over Louisville advertising illegal drugs. They are breaking the law,”Coleman said. “Since January, our office has been investigating mail-order abortion pills. We will not tolerate this illegal danger.”
<div id="attachment_1169999" style="width: 555px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1169999" class="size-full wp-image-1169999" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-3.07.42-PM.png" alt="" width="545" height="607" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-3.07.42-PM.png 545w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-3.07.42-PM-269x300.png 269w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-3.07.42-PM-517x576.png 517w" sizes=" (max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px" />KY Right to Life.</div>
Kentucky is one of more than a dozen states where medication abortions using mifepristone are prohibited under state law. The growing flow of abortion pills through the mail has created a major enforcement battle between pro-life states and abortion activists operating outside their borders.
Coleman first launched an investigation into the Mayday in January after it sponsored advertisements at Kentucky gas stations reading, “Pregnant? Don’t want to be? Learn more at Mayday Health.”
The activist organization was founded by Olivia Raisner, who previously worked as traveling content director for President Joe Biden’s Office of Digital Strategy. Its website walks visitors through obtaining abortion pills by mail and directs them to services through which the drugs can be ordered.
The group also maintains a page devoted to “gender-affirming care resources,” directing visitors to activist organizations that can help cover the costs associated with transgender procedures.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1169997" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-scaled.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1060" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-scaled.png 2560w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-300x124.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-1024x424.png 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-768x318.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-1536x636.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/09/Screenshot-2026-09-01-at-2.26.26-PM-2048x848.png 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /></div>
The airplane banner was spotted by the pro-life organization Kentucky Right to Life.
“Mayday Health is back at it — flying their abortion pushing-pill-propaganda over Kentucky. Kentuckians deserve better than out-of-state activists pushing dangerous abortion drugs into our Commonwealth,” said Addia Wuchner, the group’s executive director. “We will continue to stand firm and protect life!” And Kentucky isn’t the first place Mayday has taken its message.
The organization has promoted abortion pills around the country, including at the U.S. Open in New York and at gas stations across South Dakota. In July, a Biden-appointed federal judge sided with Mayday after the organization sued to block a South Dakota law restricting advertisements for abortion pills.
Raisner defended the Kentucky banner by arguing that Mayday’s activities are protected speech under the First Amendment.
“Mayday shares information about abortion pills in states where clinics are banned or restricted,” she told Kentucky Today. “We want everyone to know that safe, effective abortion medication exists.”
Despite the claims that it just &#8220;share information,&#8221; Mayday&#8217;s website actively directs users to other secretive organizations that ship abortion pills anywhere in the country. These organizations typically send pills in flagrant violation of states laws without requiring identity verification or prescription.
Despite the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, the number of abortions performed nationwide has increased, according to data compiled by organizations that support abortion rights. Tens of thousands of abortions are now estimated to be taking place among residents of states such as Texas and Tennessee, where abortion is heavily restricted, with abortion pills obtained through the mail playing a significant role.
In Kentucky, the estimated number of abortions increased from 950 in 2023 to 2,970 in 2024.
Pro-life organizations have consequently pushed the Trump administration to reverse Biden-era FDA policies that expanded access to abortion pills through the mail. The FDA says it is currently conducting a safety review of mifepristone.

Screenshot 2026-09-01 at 3.10.55 PM

Abortion Radicals Under Investigation For Plane Stunt Advertising Illegal Abortion Drugs

Abortion

Abortion drugs

Joe Biden

Kentucky

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced Thursday that he has been released from a rehabilitation facility and will continue his recovery at his Kentucky home, ending a months-long hospitalization that fueled speculation about his health and renewed calls for the 84-year-old to resign.
“Elaine and I are grateful for the many well wishes and support from friends, colleagues, and Kentuckians, and for the attentive care I’ve received from excellent doctors, nurses, therapists, and hospital staff,&#8221; McConnell <a href="https://x.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/2085436771714650136?s=20">said in the statement</a>.
The Kentucky Republican, who is not running for reelection, provided no timeline on a possible return to Washington, D.C. Between June 15 and August 5, McConnell missed 51 roll call votes, <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/missing">according to a government tracker</a>. His absence could also derail Todd Blanche’s nomination to be the U.S. Attorney General, as the acting Attorney General is struggling to earn 50 votes for confirmation.
“On the advice of my doctors, I’ll maintain an intensive regimen of physical therapy from home during the state work period, and I’ll continue to engage with my staff and colleagues on important Senate business,&#8221; McConnell said in the latest health update.
The 84-year-old’s extended hospitalization has fueled mounting questions about both his health and what would happen if Kentucky’s longest-serving senator were unable to complete his final term. He has remained hospitalized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senator-mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=84-Year-Old+Mitch+McConnell+Hospitalized+After+%E2%80%98Unknown+Medical+Incident%E2%80%99">since June 14</a>, when emergency responders were dispatched to his Washington residence following what was widely reported as an emergency radio traffic describing a cardiac arrest requiring CPR. 
The lack of information sparked widespread speculation online. Still, it has also drawn renewed attention to an unusual wrinkle in Kentucky election law that could become significant if McConnell were to resign or otherwise vacate his seat before his term expires in January 2027. With a Democrat occupying the governor’s office, Republican lawmakers<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-legislature-senate-vacancies-faf6f1f41fa42c3e0b818fc3fb3d4d4a"> recently moved</a> to eliminate the governor’s appointment authority in favor of a special election process.
Previous health updates included photos with his wife, Elaine Chao, and statements from McConnell’s physician. 
“Senator McConnell continues his recovery from a fall at home in June. OAP physicians visit with the Senator every day, discussing all aspects of his rehabilitation care,” the Office of the Attending Physician <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mcconnells-office-shares-new-photo-and-update-on-the-senator">said July 27</a>. “Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls.”
“His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office,” the OAP added.

Mitch McConnell

Sen. Mitch McConnell Gives Major Update After Months In Hospital

News

Republicans

Sen. McConnell

U.S. Senate

Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Monday said he is still recovering at a rehabilitation facility from a June medical episode, according to another health update from his office. 
In the statement, the Republican said he&#8217;s still undergoing treatment and won&#8217;t be attending local events this weekend. 
“I’m still working hard to get back to my full schedule of work in the Senate and in Kentucky, keeping up with intense physical therapy per my doctors’ orders. Unfortunately, that means I won’t be able to make it to Fancy Farm, Kentucky this Saturday,” he said,<a href="https://www.wlky.com/article/sen-mitch-mcconnell-written-statement-photo-july-27/73274265"> according to local outlet WLKY.</a> “As always, I appreciate all of your continued well wishes, and I’m looking forward to getting back to the Senate and to Kentucky soon.”
The health update included a fresh photo with his wife, Elaine Chao, and also provided a statement from McConnell’s physician. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
McConnell’s office releases a new photo plus a statement saying he is undergoing “intense physical therapy” and not ready to get back to work in person. No timeline for his return to the Senate. He has not been seen in the Capitol since his June 14 hospitalization. <a href="https://t.co/G9h99SboZA">pic.twitter.com/G9h99SboZA</a>
— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) <a href="https://x.com/sahilkapur/status/2081767125555757332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 27, 2026</a></blockquote>
“Senator McConnell continues his recovery from a fall at home in June. OAP physicians visit with the Senator every day, discussing all aspects of his rehabilitation care,” the Office of the Attending Physician said. “Since his discharge from hospital care, he has maintained a strenuous course of physical therapy and rehabilitation, including multiple sessions a day designed to rebuild strength and reduce the risk of future falls.”
&#8220;His bout with childhood polio continues to be a significant factor in his mobility. He is not yet medically cleared to leave the rehab facility and return to the office,” the OAP added. 
The 84-year-old’s extended hospitalization has fueled mounting questions about both his health and what would happen if Kentucky’s longest-serving senator were unable to complete his final term. He has remained hospitalized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senator-mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=84-Year-Old+Mitch+McConnell+Hospitalized+After+%E2%80%98Unknown+Medical+Incident%E2%80%99">since June 14</a>, when emergency responders were dispatched to his Washington residence following what was widely reported as an emergency radio traffic describing a cardiac arrest requiring CPR. 
The lack of information sparked widespread speculation online. Still, it has also drawn renewed attention to an unusual wrinkle in Kentucky election law that could become significant if McConnell were to resign or otherwise vacate his seat before his term expires in January 2027. With a Democrat occupying the governor’s office, Republican lawmakers<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-legislature-senate-vacancies-faf6f1f41fa42c3e0b818fc3fb3d4d4a"> recently moved</a> to eliminate the governor’s appointment authority in favor of a special election process.
McConnell, who is not running for another term, has missed <a href="https://www.wlky.com/article/sen-mitch-mcconnell-written-statement-photo-july-27/73274265">38 Senate votes</a> since the medical incident.

McConnell’s Office Shares New Photo And Update On The Senator

Health

Politics

Senator Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) extended hospitalization has fueled mounting questions about both his health and what would happen if Kentucky&#8217;s longest-serving senator were unable to complete his final term.
The 84-year-old Kentucky Republican has remained hospitalized <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senator-mitch-mcconnell-hospitalized?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=84-Year-Old+Mitch+McConnell+Hospitalized+After+%E2%80%98Unknown+Medical+Incident%E2%80%99">since June 14</a>, when emergency responders were dispatched to his Washington residence following what widely reported emergency radio traffic described as a cardiac arrest requiring CPR. McConnell&#8217;s office has released only brief statements since then, declining to disclose the nature of his condition or his prognosis.
The lack of information has sparked widespread speculation online, but it has also drawn renewed attention to an unusual wrinkle in Kentucky election law that could become significant if McConnell were to resign or otherwise vacate his seat before his term expires in January 2027.
McConnell&#8217;s office attempted to tamp down speculation last week, issuing another short <a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/02/congress/mcconnell-remains-hospitalized-00986648">statement</a>. 
&#8220;Senator McConnell appreciates the outpouring of support he&#8217;s receiving while he continues his recovery in the hospital,&#8221; his office said. &#8220;The Senator continues to improve and is working closely with his staff on Kentucky and Senate matters while the Senate is out of session.&#8221;
Beyond that statement, his office has declined to provide additional details regarding his medical condition. The limited disclosures have become increasingly notable as conservative commentators and online activists speculate about the senator&#8217;s status, with some questioning whether his office is withholding information until a key election-law deadline passes.
Much of that speculation centers on changes Kentucky lawmakers made last year to the state&#8217;s Senate vacancy process.
In 2024, Kentucky enacted House Bill 622, repealing the state&#8217;s previous law allowing the governor to appoint an interim U.S. senator and replacing it with a special-election process. Under the revised statute, if a Senate vacancy occurs before a term expires, the governor must issue a proclamation calling a special election to fill the remainder of that term.
Unlike many states, Kentucky no longer provides for an interim gubernatorial appointment under the statute.
However, adding another layer of complexity, Kentucky law does not require a separate special election if a vacancy occurs within three months of a regularly scheduled general election. This year&#8217;s three-month cutoff falls on August 3.
Legal experts caution, however, that Kentucky&#8217;s revised succession law has never been tested in court. Josh Douglass, associate dean for research at the University of Kentucky Rosenberg College of Law, told <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/mitch-mcconnell-health-questions-raise-kentucky-senate-succession-issues-12159137">Newsweek</a> that the legislation could face constitutional questions because Section 152 of the Kentucky Constitution grants the governor appointment authority over statewide vacancies, while the Seventeenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows — but does not require — states to authorize temporary gubernatorial appointments before an election.
If challenged, courts would have to determine whether Kentucky&#8217;s revised statute is consistent with both the state and U.S. constitutions, all in a very short timeframe.
Complicating matters further, the statute provides detailed procedures for calling special elections but does not explicitly address how a vacancy would be handled when the same Senate seat is already scheduled to appear on the general-election ballot only months later. The uncertainty comes as Kentucky is already preparing to elect McConnell&#8217;s successor. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), who secured President Donald Trump&#8217;s endorsement and won the GOP primary, will face Democratic nominee Charles Booker in the general election for the seat. Barr enters the race as the clear favorite in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1992.
While questions surrounding Kentucky&#8217;s election law have attracted increasing attention, another aspect of McConnell&#8217;s hospitalization has generated its own round of speculation. Three days after McConnell was hospitalized, his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, traveled to Beijing as part of what her office described as a previously scheduled philanthropic trip connected to her family&#8217;s charitable work.
Chinese state media <a href="https://en.people.cn/n3/2026/0618/c90000-20468740.html">published photographs</a> showing Chao meeting with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who encouraged continued efforts to strengthen relations between Beijing and Washington.
The timing of the trip prompted even more speculation because of the limited public information surrounding McConnell&#8217;s condition. Chao&#8217;s <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/what-we-know-about-mitch-mcconnell-health-12165797">spokesperson rejected</a> suggestions that the travel reflected anything unusual. &#8220;The secretary was on a long-planned trip in China to support her family&#8217;s philanthropic endeavors,&#8221; the spokesperson said. &#8220;During the trip, she met with a number of people, including the U.S. ambassador. The Senator&#8217;s health did not warrant an immediate return to the U.S.&#8221;
For now, McConnell remains a sitting senator, and there has been no public indication that he intends to resign. But with his office continuing to release only brief updates, his prolonged hospitalization has placed renewed attention on Kentucky&#8217;s untested Senate succession law — and the unusual legal questions that could arise if his status were to change before voters elect his successor in November.

Rumors Swirl As Mitch McConnell Hospitalization Enters Fourth Week

Senate

Speaking to The Daily Wire on Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump called embattled Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) a &#8220;low life&#8221; and counted his ouster as a victory for the Republican Party.
&#8220;How are you feeling after this Massie defeat last night? What does it mean for the Republican party?&#8221; Daily Wire White House Correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan asked the president.
&#8220;We had a great number of victories — not just Massie,&#8221; Trump responded. &#8220;Massie is a low life.&#8221;
&#8220;We had a great number of victories,&#8221; the president added. &#8220;We won all races last night.&#8221;
Massie lost his primary election on Tuesday evening to Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein. Additionally, other Trump-aligned candidates scored victories, including in Georgia, Alabama, Indiana, and Louisiana, while anti-Trump candidates struggled.
&#8220;I know how to win,&#8221; Trump said. &#8220;I think I&#8217;ve proven that, haven&#8217;t I?&#8221;
<iframe loading="lazy" title="EXCLUSIVE: Trump reacts to defeat of ‘low life’ Thomas Massie" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xoms-lqh6YU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
On Truth Social, Trump posted about 37 different candidates with his backing who won their races. In another post, he said he had a 100% track record this election.
<div id="attachment_1098843" style="width: 596px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1098843" class="wp-image-1098843 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12.21.00-PM-586x576.png" alt="" width="586" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12.21.00-PM-586x576.png 586w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12.21.00-PM-300x295.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12.21.00-PM-768x755.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12.21.00-PM-1536x1510.png 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Screenshot-2026-05-20-at-12.21.00-PM.png 1758w" sizes=" (max-width: 586px) 100vw, 586px" />Screenshot: Truth Social</div>
Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, got the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/team-trump-goes-all-out-to-oust-thomas-massie">backing</a> of President Trump after Massie bucked the president on the war in Iran, the Epstein files, the &#8220;Big Beautiful Bill,&#8221; and other issues.
Back in May 2025, Trump made clear that he would <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/just-another-grandstander-trump-backs-primary-challenge-to-thomas-massie?utm_source=chatgpt.com">support a primary challenger to Massie</a>, adding that he’d “lead the charge against him.”
Then, in November, Trump unleashed on the former ally. Taking to Truth Social, the president <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-goes-nuclear-on-two-former-allies-says-hell-back-primary-challengers">wrote</a>, “Did Thomas Massie, sometimes referred to as Rand Paul Jr., because of the fact that he always votes against the Republican Party, get married already??? Boy, that was quick!”
Massie’s wife of over 31 years died in June 2024. Sixteen months after her passing, Massie married Carolyn Grace Moffa, 36, a former agriculture policy staffer for Senator Rand Paul.
“No wonder the Polls have him at less than an 8% chance of winning the Election,” Trump added. “Anyway, have a great life Thomas and (?). His wife will soon find out that she’s stuck with a LOSER!&#8221;
During Massie&#8217;s concession speech, he claimed he wasn&#8217;t running against Trump or even Gallrein. &#8220;We weren’t running against Ed Gallrein. We weren’t running against Donald Trump,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We were running for what we believe in.&#8221;
The ousted congressman also mocked Gallrein during his concession speech. &#8220;I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent and concede, and it took a while to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv,&#8221; he said.

Trump, Thomas Massie

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Breaks Silence After Midterm Night, Calls Massie A ‘Low Life’

EXCLUSIVE: Trump Reacts To Defeat Of ‘Low Life’ Thomas Massie

2026 Midterms

Donald Trump

Thomas Massie

Outgoing Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) topped off his concession speech with a swipe at Jews in a comment about his Republican primary challenger Ed Gallrein.
Massie spoke to supporters on Tuesday evening after his campaign went down in flames, claiming that he was late to deliver his remarks because he&#8217;d first had to track down Gallrein in Tel Aviv to offer his concession personally.
&#8220;I would have come out sooner, but I had to call my opponent to concede and it took awhile to find Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv,&#8221; Massie said, prompting laughter from his supporters as he suggested that his opponent was beholden to Israeli interests.
&#8220;I did give the call, though. I have called and conceded the race,&#8221; Massie continued, claiming, &#8220;We&#8217;ve been honorable the whole time, and we&#8217;re gonna stay that way.&#8221;
WATCH:
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Even in his concession speech, Thomas Massie had to take a shot at Jews" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Y36L9lgn_Y?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Kentucky Congressman&#8217;s campaign leaned into antisemitic advertising as the heated contest drew to a close.
One ad, created by pro-Massie PAC Hold the Line, claimed that &#8220;the gay mafia&#8221; would &#8220;own&#8221; Gallrein if he won, and pointed to Gallrein&#8217;s billionaire Jewish donor Paul Singer as the prime example. The ad featured the LGBTQ+ flag overlaying the Star of David, called Singer a &#8220;pro-gay, pro-trans activist working with far-Left, hardcore Democrats,&#8221; and claimed that Singer would &#8220;bring his trans madness to Kentucky.&#8221;
In the final hours of the campaign, Massie&#8217;s team <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/massie-rolls-out-fake-trump-endorsement-with-hours-to-go-before-polls-close">fired off</a> a text blast that featured an endorsement from President Donald Trump. The endorsement was a real one, but it was from 2022 — and Massie&#8217;s campaign removed the date to make it appear as if it were current.
President Trump fired off a quick response via social media, demanding that Massie withdraw the &#8220;FAKE STATEMENT&#8221; immediately.
&#8220;Horrible Congressman Thomas Massie put out an old Endorsement, from many years ago, of him by me long before I found out that he was the Worst Congressman in the History of our Country,&#8221; Trump <a href="https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2056827052851105947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2056827052851105947%7Ctwgr%5E2b8df505d2491211326c6d5292d3f5ee21d905f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailywire.com%2Fnews%2Fmassie-rolls-out-fake-trump-endorsement-with-hours-to-go-before-polls-close">posted</a>. &#8220;I endorsed Ed Gallrein, a true American Patriot, which Massie knows full well, so the statement that he put out is fraudulent, just like HE is fraudulent. WITHDRAW YOUR FAKE STATEMENT, MASSIE, RIGHT NOW.&#8221;
CNN Republican commentator Scott Jennings laid into Massie over the &#8220;nasty, gutter politics&#8221; on display, saying, &#8220;There was an undercurrent of antisemitism in this race on the Massie side. There&#8217;s been an undercurrent of it in his career, unfortunately, and it really came out in an ugly way tonight, and I think it needs to be stated, acknowledged, and condemned.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨 NEW: Scott Jennings blasts Thomas Massie on his way out the door: “Despicable, anti-Semitic, nasty, gutter politics… it needs to be condemned.”
“What a way to go out. He said, ‘I’d have called Gallrein but I had to find him in Tel Aviv.’.. it needs to be stated, acknowledged… <a href="https://t.co/2TlzBF8syJ">pic.twitter.com/2TlzBF8syJ</a>
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) <a href="https://twitter.com/TVNewsNow/status/2056939356393263128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 20, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rep. Thomas Massie Holds Primary Election Night Event In Hebron, Kentucky

Massie Just Couldn’t Help Himself In Concession Speech

Ed Gallrein

Media

Voters in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District ousted embattled Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) on Tuesday in the most expensive House primary in American history, marking the latest incumbent to fall amid President Donald Trump’s campaign to purge Republicans he views as disloyal to his agenda.
With 95% of the vote reported, Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and farmer, leads with 55% of the vote. <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2056883139234979997?s=20">Decision Desk HQ called the race at 7:41 p.m. ET.</a>  
It’s a stunning political collapse for the libertarian-minded fiscal hawk who rode the Tea Party wave into Congress in 2012 and remained politically untouchable ever since.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-trump-machine-takes-on-thomas-massie-georgians-choose-their-nominees-for-senate-gov?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Trump+Machine+Takes+On+Thomas+Massie+While+Georgia+Braces+For+Primary+Showdowns" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LIVE UPDATES: Republican Primary Voters Go To The Polls In Kentucky, Georgia</a>
Massie’s defeat delivers another political win for Trump, who in recent weeks has exacted revenge against Indiana Republicans who bucked his redistricting effort and Louisiana GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy for voting to convict Trump on impeachment charges. 
Few Republicans, if any, have provoked more ire from the president than Massie.
In October 2025, Trump recruited and endorsed Gallrein, throwing the full weight of his MAGA political machine to remove Massie from the halls of Congress. In a Truth Social Post rallying his base, Trump called Massie, long a thorn in his side, a &#8220;bum&#8221; and the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116589795851243755">“worst Republican Congressman in history.”</a>
The president’s frustration with Massie traces back to March 2020, when Trump called Massie a “third rate Grandstander” and urged the GOP to kick him out of the party after he tried to stall a $2.2 trillion COVID aid package. Two years later, Trump endorsed Massie in his primary, hailing him as a “Conservative Warrior” and a “first-rate Defender of the Constitution,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-backs-navy-seal-in-bid-to-knock-off-gop-rep-thomas-massie">The Daily Wire previously reported</a>.
But during Trump’s second term, the Kentucky Republican has stepped up criticism of the administration over a range of foreign and domestic issues. He voted against Trump&#8217;s signature tax cut and spending bill and has accused the administration of <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5658597-doj-releases-epstein-documents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“flaunting the law,”</a> and said Republicans opposed to his discharge petition, forcing the release of Epstein files, were voting to <a href="https://x.com/CatchUpFeed/status/1990185676810137991?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“protect pedophiles.&#8221;</a>  
Massie has also supported resolutions to curb Trump’s authority to launch military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran and has criticized the U.S.-backed operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, who is sitting in a federal jail pending criminal charges. 
“Wake up MAGA. VENEZUELA is not about drugs; it’s about OIL and REGIME CHANGE. This is not what we voted for,” <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2007855570447913358?s=20">Massie said in a social media post.</a> 
On the campaign trail, Massie defended his record and insisted on voting independently of the White House. 
“It&#8217;s a question of whether you can have even the slight bit of a dissenting vote on any day at all. Because I vote with the party 90% of the time,” Massie told a local news outlet. “It&#8217;s a referendum, I do believe, on whether the legislative branch works for the executive branch or if we are co-equal branches.”
The campaign drew unprecedented third-party spending, amassing more than $32.6M and becoming the most expensive House primary on record, <a href="https://x.com/AdImpact_Pol/status/2056399251890926063?s=20">according to AdImpact. </a>Pro-Gallrein spending accounted for $18.8M compared to $13.2M Pro-Massie fundraising. 
In addition to the <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?committee_id=C00908723">MAGA KY super PAC</a> founded by former Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita, pro-Israel groups, including AIPAC and the Republican Jewish Coalition, have spent millions opposing Massie, <a href="https://x.com/DecisionDeskHQ/status/2056404117908570294?s=20">according to Decision Desk HQ.</a> 
Massie, on the other hand, mostly accepted out-of-state money from anti-war progressives, Muslim-American activists, and left-aligned PACs, including Integrity Political Action Committee (IPAC), which recently partnered with a chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to undermine ICE, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/massie-fight-political-life-leftists-islamist-donors?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Massie+Enters+Fight+For+Political+Life+Flanked+By+Islamists%2C+Left-Wing+Donors">The Daily Wire previously reported.</a>
Money aside, the race drew political heavy-hitters into Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, which stretches along the Ohio River and includes much of the suburban and exurban corridor between Cincinnati and Louisville.
Over the weekend, Trump threatened to support a primary challenge against Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) after she hit the campaign trail to support Massie. 
In Saturday night Truth Social posts, Trump railed against Republicans backing Massie for “parading around like fools,” calling Boebert “weak-minded.”
“Boebert is campaigning for the Worst ‘Republican’ Congressman in the History of our Country, Thomas Massie, of the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, and anybody who can be that dumb deserves a good Primary fight!” <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116586609402311469">Trump said.</a>  “Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my Honor to withdraw that Endorsement and endorse a good and proper alternative,” he said.
“Yes, I saw the president’s post. No, I’m not mad or offended. I knew the risks when I agreed to stand by my friend Thomas Massie. I was, and will be, America First, America Always, and MAGA,” Boebert said in response.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Monday hit the stump for Gallrein.
“At some point, being against everything becomes an excuse for accomplishing nothing,” Hegseth said at a Kentucky campaign event. “President Trump does not need more people in Washington who are trying to make a point, especially from his own party. He needs people willing to help him win, to vote with him when it matters the most.” 
In response, Massie said, “Dogs don’t bark at parked cars.” 
“The fact you got cabinet secretaries that may be coming to my district to campaign against me, during a war, shows how serious this is to the global elites that I lose,” <a href="https://x.com/Holden_Culotta/status/2055282383406993911?s=20">he said.</a>

Thomas Massie/Donald Trump

Trump Machine Topples Thomas Massie

Congress

Elections

U.S. House

Rep. Mike Collins

LIVE UPDATES: High-Stakes Georgia Primaries Could Reshape 2026 Midterms

Georgia

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has pulled out all the stops to get rid of Thomas Massie.
The president and his team have waged war on the Kentucky congressman for his disloyalty to Trump on a plethora of issues — the war in Iran, the Epstein files, the One Big Beautiful Bill, and more. From Truth Social posts to actively campaigning for Massie&#8217;s opponent on the ground, Trump has sent the same scathing message, over and over again: Massie is a &#8220;total disaster as a congressman, and frankly, a human being,&#8221; and the people of Kentucky&#8217;s 4th Congressional District need to vote him out.
Today, Kentuckians will decide between Massie and his opponent, Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer. A Massie win would be a crushing defeat for Team Trump and their allies. A Massie loss would be a triumphant victory for the president — and a signal to the rest of the Republican party that they must fall in line, or else.
“Republicans are in lockstep with President Trump — the ultimate turnout driver — and making major investments to win,&#8221; RNC spokeswoman Emma Hall told The Daily Wire. &#8220;Democrats are out of money, running toxic far-left candidates, and stuck defending a historically unpopular agenda.”
Massie hasn&#8217;t had a serious opponent since he first won his seat in 2012. Yet in the days leading up to the election, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/kentucky-us-house-4-polls-2026.html">some polls find Massie&#8217;s challenger ahead.</a> Gallrein is a fifth-generation farmer, a 68-year-old veteran with four Bronze Stars from his time serving in the United States military. His campaign rhetoric is laced with military jargon, and he often references his work on the farm at home. And he has Trump on his side.
&#8220;Feel good,&#8221; a person close to Gallrein shared with the Daily Wire on Tuesday morning. &#8220;It’s a close race, but we believe Ed Gallrein is on the right side of it.&#8221;
Massie is banking on voters sticking with his anti-establishment platform, arguing that he is determined to stand by his principles and refuses to merely blow with Trumpian winds.
“I’m not a go-along-to-get-along congressman,” he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/us/politics/thomas-massie-kentucky-trump-election.html">told The New York Times</a>. “And that has endeared me to a lot of the constituents who are part of this coalition that put us in the White House.”
On the other hand, Team Trump is aggressively emphasizing that Trump has repeatedly won Kentucky — &#8220;won big SIX TIMES,&#8221; as the president puts it — and Massie is no longer aligned with Trump. They&#8217;re banking on the massive power of The Trump Endorsement, and on Kentuckians siding with the president. And with a massive win in Indiana following the savaging of Republican senators who resisted Trump&#8217;s redistricting efforts, Team Trump is also feeling good.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t see how anybody can reasonably claim to be a member of a political party in good standing when you make it your business to try to derail the main agenda items of that party, which is exactly what Thomas Massie has done,&#8221; said Tim Murtaugh, former communications director to Donald Trump and a senior campaign adviser to Gallrein.
He&#8217;s also &#8220;stuck his finger in the eye&#8221; of Donald Trump and his White House, Murtaugh noted, and it is Donald Trump who &#8220;represents this party.&#8221;
&#8220;He&#8217;s a president who carried this district over Kamala Harris by 36 points in 2024, and Thomas Massie decides that he&#8217;s bigger than that margin? I don&#8217;t think so. This is very much Donald Trump&#8217;s Republican party, not Thomas Massie&#8217;s.&#8221;
Trump himself went to Kentucky to campaign against Massie in March, calling the Kentucky congressman a &#8220;disaster for our party,&#8221; and warning the crowd: &#8220;Get rid of this loser. This guy is bad.&#8221; Trump then brought Massie&#8217;s challenger, Ed Gallrein, on stage and praised him for his loyalty to both the country and to Trump himself.
“As you folks know, you deserve an authentic, true Republican conservative that stands shoulder to shoulder with our president and the Republican party and against the Democrats who are trying to destroy our nation,” Gallrein told the crowd, adding: “Mr. President, I will stand with you and the party to put America first and Kentucky always.&#8221;
In recent days, the president has also promoted claims from podcaster Laura Loomer describing an alleged ex-girlfriend of Massie&#8217;s named Cynthia West, whom Loomer says was pressured by Massie to &#8220;perform sexual acts&#8221; she was uncomfortable with. Trump has also criticized Massie for remarrying so quickly after his wife of 31 years passed away (the 55-year-old congressman remarried 16 months later to 36-year-old Carolyn Grace Moffa).
As Trump launches onslaught after onslaught on Massie from Truth Social, he&#8217;s also deployed top White House operatives James Blair and Chris LaCivita to oust Massie.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Blair said he knows Massie will lose &#8220;because I know the numbers.&#8221; Voters, <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/ede39e87-c489-432c-b5e0-09da19b591dc?syn-25a6b1a6=1">he promised</a>, “disagree with [Massie&#8217;s] choice to consistently side with the Democrats in voting against every Republican priority.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Gotta another one coming Tuesday …. <a href="https://t.co/7rYnJj3xnj">pic.twitter.com/7rYnJj3xnj</a>
— Chris LaCivita (@ChrisLaCivita) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisLaCivita/status/2056132941806444888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
LaCivita, known for his sharp tongue and unabashed attacks on political opponents, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/16/kentucky-republican-primary-election-massie-gallrein#:~:text=Two%20of%20the%20president's%20most,the%20Beltway%20v%20the%20Bluegrass%E2%80%9D.">is leading the MAGA KY</a> political action committee backing Gallrein, alongside Trump adviser and pollster Tony Fabrizio. LaCivita is also ruthless on social media in his criticisms of Massie — on Monday, for example, he posted about <a href="https://x.com/ChrisLaCivita/status/2056496890519167238?s=20">scandalous rumors regarding</a> Massie and his genitalia, setting off the congressional security alarms. On Sunday, he posted a satirical video of Trump hitting Bill Cassidy in the head with a golf ball immediately after the ousted senator says, &#8220;I voted to convict Trump.&#8221;
&#8220;Gotta another one coming Tuesday,&#8221; promised LaCivita.
A Republican will retain the seat no matter what, one Republican strategist close to the race shared. &#8220;I can&#8217;t really say for certain what&#8217;s going to happen, but Kentucky is a ruby red seat. We&#8217;re obviously feeling very confident about retaining that.&#8221;
&#8220;In Indiana, five Indiana state senators lost to the president&#8217;s endorsed candidate,&#8221; that strategist pointed out, noting that no one should be underestimating the &#8220;strengths of the president&#8217;s endorsement,&#8221; or &#8220;how popular the president is in these races.&#8221;
&#8220;All of these candidates that we&#8217;re seeing are running on his record, they are running on his agenda, and the things that he&#8217;s been able to deliver.&#8221;
Trump&#8217;s endorsement is certainly clear, but White House support for Gallrein goes far beyond that.
Astonishing amounts of cash are flowing into the race. The Gallrein campaign and other outside groups have spent over $14 million on his bid to defeat Massie. About $9 million of that is from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and other pro-Israel groups, <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2026/05/17/massie-aipac-record-spending-israel-maga-trump-primary-00925375?utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_source=dlvr.it">according to POLITICO</a>.
Even more pro-Israel groups have dumped cash into the Trump-aligned PAC, MAGA KY, POLITICO reports, which has gained $1 million from Paul Singer, $250,000 from hedge fund manager John Paulson, and $750,000 from Preserve America PAC, a PAC tied to Miriam Adelson.
Just one day ahead of the highly anticipated election, the campaign played another key card: the Secretary of War himself. Pete Hegseth made his way down to Kentucky to rally with Gallrein (in his personal capacity, the War Department said in a statement), drawing on their similarities as veterans and hitting at Massie for failing to back Trump.
“At some point, constant obstruction is not leadership, it&#8217;s just commentary,&#8221; Hegseth told the cheering crowd. &#8220;It&#8217;s obstruction. Too often, Massie acts like his job is to stand apart from the movement that Trump leads instead of strengthening it.”
And in an election-eve message, posted to social media by top Trump ally Alex Bruesewitz, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller sent a final admonishment.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Attention <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepThomasMassie</a> and Kentucky-4, the GREAT <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StephenM</a> has a message for you.
Massie needs to go! <a href="https://t.co/7v3V0Yoite">pic.twitter.com/7v3V0Yoite</a>
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/alexbruesewitz/status/2056566840894033933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2026</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Tom Massie betrayed America, betrayed you, and betrayed your children,&#8221; said Miller. &#8220;The single most important issue affecting the future of our country is ending the mass third-world invasion of America and reversing that invasion. And on the most important issue, on the most important vote, on the most important bill, on the most important day, Tom Massie sided with every House Democrat&#8230;against President Trump, against the American people, and against YOU and your family.&#8221;

0efbe74e-1eb0-451f-a8cc-fe3aa71373f2

Team Trump Goes All Out To Oust Thomas Massie

Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican congressman locked in a heated primary battle with a Trump-backed challenger, is fundraising from anti-war, Muslim-American activists, and leftist-aligned PACs. 
President Trump has called Massie, long a thorn in his side, the <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116589795851243755">“worst Republican Congressman in history”</a>, throwing the weight of his MAGA political machine behind his opponent to oust him. The Kentucky Republican has emerged as a vocal critic of the administration’s handling of the Epstein files, Iran, and the president’s signature “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”
In October 2025, Trump recruited and endorsed Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to challenge Massie.
Since then, the money has poured in, making Tuesday’s primary election the most expensive in U.S. history. Politico reported that more than $32 million has been spent on the contest, including a wave of outside spending from deep-pocketed third-party groups against Massie, including AIPAC, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and others. 
Tuesday’s election may be the clearest test yet of whether Massie’s political durability can withstand the force of Trump’s endorsement. In the campaign’s final stretch, Massie has leaned heavily into the role of outside and third-party influence to explain polling slippage. 
“After months of beating around the bush, one reporter finally writes the true story of my race, and when asked, the lobbyists brag about it,” Massie said of a Politico story highlighting Pro-Israel spending. “A coalition of Israel’s lobbyists and donors is spending tens of millions of dollars in a blatant attempt to buy a KY congressional seat.”
At the same time, more than 90% of Massie’s individual donors come from outside Kentucky, with the largest shares from California, Texas, and Florida, <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/profiles/thomas-massie/us_congress/individual_donors?mpid=1091614&amp;cycle=2026&amp;display=combined">according to OpenSecrets</a>, a nonprofit that tracks money in U.S. politics. Only 5% of his individual contributions come from Kentucky.
The Congressman also appears to be accepting money from billionaires, anti-war progressives, Muslim-American activists, and left-aligned PACs with foreign ties well beyond Kentucky. 
<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2025/12/09/thomas-massie-facing-trumps-opposition-gets-a-hand-from-billionaire-megadonor/">The Kentucky Lantern</a> reported that <a href="https://www.kentuckyfirstpac.com/">Kentucky First PAC</a>, one of the main pro-Massie outside groups, ran a $1 million advertising blitz funded in large part by a contribution traceable to a group backed by billionaire financier Jeff Yass. 
Yass, 67, is the co-founder of the Philadelphia-based trading firm Susquehanna International Group. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/profiles/jeffrey-s-yass/?embedded-checkout=true">Bloomberg reports</a> he is worth $84.6 billion, making him the 22nd wealthiest person in the world. Yass also holds a minority stake in ByteDance, the Beijing-based Chinese technology company that owns a minority stake in TikTok.
In October 2025, Yass contributed millions to a super PAC called Protect Freedom Political Action Committee, which was created in 2017 by political advisors to Senator Rand Paul, according to The Kentucky Lantern. The group’s cash dwindled to $114,000 until Yass infused $7.5 million on Oct. 20 for Massie’s campaign. 
A Texas-based businessman, <a href="https://thecapitalchartroom.com/sam-mahrouq-from-refugee-roots-to-business-titan/">raised in a Palestinian refugee camp</a>, has also made notable political donations to Rep. Thomas Massie. Sam Mahrouq, a Muslim-American, gave $7,000 to Massie last year — the maximum allowed per election cycle, <a href="https://freebeacon.com/democrats/meet-the-muslim-american-businessman-bankrolling-squad-dems-anti-aipac-outfits-and-marjorie-taylor-greene-and-thomas-massie/">according to The Free Press. </a>
His wife, Rania, and their children, Raneem and Zaid Mahrouq, individually donated $7,000 to Massie’s campaign as well. An additional $7,000 contribution to Massie came from Mohammad Mahrouq. Federal Election Commission filings indicate he shares the same address as the rest of the family and is employed by Ikon Technologies, a software company founded and owned by Mahrouq, <a href="https://freebeacon.com/democrats/meet-the-muslim-american-businessman-bankrolling-squad-dems-anti-aipac-outfits-and-marjorie-taylor-greene-and-thomas-massie/">according to The Free Press.</a>
Mahrouq has also donated to groups backing Senator Chris Van Hollen, James Talarico, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Anti-Zionist political groups, according to <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=mahrouq&amp;contributor_city=arlington&amp;contributor_state=TX">FEC filings.</a>
The financial records highlight the broad left-wing network backing Massie’s reelection campaign. That has manifested on the media front during the home stretch as well, with Massie accepting backing from left-wing figures like Cenk Uygur. 
Integrity Political Action Committee (IPAC), which recently partnered with a chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to target and undermine ICE, has also backed Massie.
“This coalition has united to advocate for immigrant rights and challenge what they describe as violations of constitutional rights by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. government,” the PAC says, <a href="https://ipac7.org/media">according to its website.</a>   
<a href="https://x.com/IPAC7_ORG/status/1956889520408011003?s=20">An August 2025 social media post</a> shows Massie posing alongside IPAC chairman Rafed Aljoboury. One week earlier, Aljoboury donated $500 to Massie’s campaign, according to The Free Press, citing campaign finance disclosures. 
Aljoboury is also the Chairman of a licensed <a href="https://udrf.org/about">non-governmental organization (NGO)</a> that claims to provide “saving assistance to civilians affected by conflict, with a primary focus on Gaza.”
“IPAC stands with<a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie"> Rep. ThomasMassie</a> and support his re-election campaign. It was a pleasure to meet him and we are looking forward to work with him as a true America First candidate,” the group said in the social media post. “ Rep. Massie against AIPAC influence on our demonic and foreign policies.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
IPAC stands with <a href="https://twitter.com/RepThomasMassie?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepThomasMassie</a> and support his re-election campaign. It was a pleasure to meet him and we are looking forward to work with him as a true America First candidate. 
Rep. Massie against AIPAC influence on our demonic and foreign policies. <a href="https://t.co/l1LyX5OSTq">pic.twitter.com/l1LyX5OSTq</a>
— Integrity Political Action Committee (@IPAC7_ORG) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPAC7_ORG/status/1956889520408011003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2025</a></blockquote>

Rep. Thomas Massie

Massie Enters Fight For Political Life Flanked By Islamists, Left-Wing Donors

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has survived bruising political fights before, but the most expensive U.S. House primary in American history may pose the greatest threat yet to his political career.
The Kentucky Republican has been a thorn in President Donald Trump’s side for much of his second term, emerging as a vocal critic of the administration&#8217;s handling of the Epstein files, Iran, and the president&#8217;s signature “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Now, Trump is backing a primary challenger in a campaign to end Massie&#8217;s congressional career.
In January, Trump — widely seen as the GOP’s kingmaker — endorsed Captain Ed Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL and farmer opposing Massie in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District.
“The incredible people of Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, who want desperately to get rid of Thomas Massie, the Worst ‘Republican’ Congressman we have had in many years, gave us a mandate to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115844769291604784"> Trump said in a Truth Social post.</a> “The person that will help us do the job, and do it right, is Navy SEAL, Army Ranger, Fifth Generation Kentucky Farmer, and American Hero, Captain Ed Gallrein, a true Patriot.”
<a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/11/thomas-massie-ed-gallrein-kentucky-aipac-trump">Axios reported</a> that more than $25 million has poured into the contest, including a wave of outside spending from deep-pocketed third-party groups, making it the most expensive House primary in American history.
Conventional political wisdom suggests Massie enters Tuesday’s primary with significant structural advantages. The libertarian-minded fiscal hawk has deep roots in the district, riding the Tea Party wave into Congress in 2012 and remaining politically untouchable ever since. 
Yet, Massie’s tendency to break with Trump and Republican leadership has angered the White House and may be alienating segments of the MAGA faithful.
<a href="https://quantusinsights.org/f/kentucky-cd4-republican-primary-gallrein-leads-massie">A new Quantus Insights survey</a> shows Gallrein leading Massie 53%-45% among likely Republican primary voters, marking the first public poll to show the Trump-backed challenger ahead.  
&#8220;Massie retains a substantial base, but the topline suggests that a meaningful share of the Republican primary electorate is already prepared to move in another direction,&#8221; <a href="https://quantusinsights.org/f/kentucky-cd4-republican-primary-gallrein-leads-massie">the polling firm said,</a> pointing to Massie&#8217;s durable appeal as a fiscal conservative skeptical of leadership.
&#8220;Gallrein’s support reflects the power of Trump’s endorsement, the weight of national conservative attention, and the ability of a challenger to consolidate voters who believe the district needs a different representative,&#8221; <a href="https://quantusinsights.org/f/kentucky-cd4-republican-primary-gallrein-leads-massie">the polling analysis added. </a>
The same pollster in April showed Massie ahead 47%-38%, a <a href="https://quantusinsights.org/f/massie-leads-but-the-kentucky-primary-remains-competitive">double-digit swing</a> toward Gallrein in one month. Prediction markets moved on the news. <a href="https://kalshi.com/markets/kxky4r/kentucky-4-republican-primary/kxky4r-26">Kalshi</a> now gives Gallrein a 50% chance of winning Tuesday&#8217;s primary, up from 33% on Tuesday. 
The fresh polling wasn’t the only setback for the Kentucky Republican. On Wednesday, a former girlfriend accused Massie of offering her $5,000 to withdraw a wrongful termination complaint against Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-IN), <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/13/thomas-massie-cynthia-west-nda-spartz">according to Axios.</a>
&#8220;It’s sad that a week before this election, people are making false and unsubstantiated allegations about me in an obvious attempt to influence the outcome of this election,&#8221; <a href="https://x.com/MassieforKY/status/2054558122438435079?s=20">Massie said.</a> &#8220;All of the claims of inappropriate conduct are false. I’ve never offered anyone money in exchange for their silence. I report all of my farm income, including cash, to the IRS.&#8221;
On the campaign trail, Massie acknowledged the tightening race.  
“The race is within the margin of error,” <a href="https://www.whas11.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/thomas-massie-gop-primary-against-trump-backed-challenger/417-249d14e8-b217-451b-a025-16ec595c3d0e">Massie told a local news outlet on Tuesday.</a> “I think it&#8217;s going to be close. I really do. I feel like I&#8217;m going to win. I feel like the enthusiasm is on the ground here.”
At a Monday campaign event in Boone County, signs of a fractured Republican base were on full display.
“I support the president more than any other time… Give me a reason to vote for you this time,” one female voter told Massie. 
Massie responded in part, “First of all, I’m not running against Donald Trump.&#8221;
Another male voter fired back, “I don’t understand why you vote against Trump.”
Other voters, including Cathy Beil, appreciate Massie&#8217;s independence from the president. 
“He&#8217;s a man of his word, and he&#8217;s not afraid to stand up for what his constituents want from him,” Beil told WHAS11.
“Thomas Massie inspires confidence without being a con man, and that&#8217;s why Donald Trump hates him,” another Massie supporter said. 
Trump’s relationship with Massie has been a roller-coaster ride. 
In March 2020, Trump called Massie a “third rate Grandstander” and urged the GOP to kick him out of the party. Two years later, Trump endorsed Massie in his Republican primary, referring to him as a “Conservative Warrior” and a “first-rate Defender of the Constitution,” <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-backs-navy-seal-in-bid-to-knock-off-gop-rep-thomas-massie">The Daily Wire previously reported</a>.
But during Trump&#8217;s second term, Massie has regularly criticized the administration&#8217;s foreign and domestic policies.
Massie also condemned the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/2007855570447913358">arguing</a> that the operation was only “about oil and regime change.”
“This is not what we voted for,” he said.
Kentucky&#8217;s 4th Congressional District primary is set for Tuesday, May 19.

Thomas Massie Is A Political Survivor — But This Time Might Be Different

An 18-year-old man is accused of fatally shooting two U.S. Bank employees in Berea, Kentucky, before rifling through the teller drawers for cash and speeding off in his car.
Brailen Weaver of Covington, Kentucky, entered the bank at around 2:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, wearing a black mask and gloves, according to the <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/1033646042/BrailenWeaverAffidavit-Redacted?secret_password=6Pd48N8xJJIAk7EFw5t7#download&amp;from_embed">arrest affidavit</a>. Weaver shot and killed a male U.S. Bank employee right after walking into the branch and then gunned down a female teller before he searched through multiple drawers, the affidavit states.
The suspect fled the bank in a silver BMW sedan, which authorities tracked down after finding the same car listed for sale on Facebook by Weaver. Investigators then reviewed Weaver&#8217;s social media and found photos of him that matched the description of the suspect seen on the bank&#8217;s security cameras.
Weaver also posted a meme on Instagram just hours after he allegedly robbed the bank and killed two employees, according to the FBI. The meme depicts an alien holding a stash of $100 bills with the caption, &#8220;I pledge allegiance to da bag.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_1088381" style="width: 483px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1088381" class="wp-image-1088381 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-01T152737.527-473x576.jpg" alt="" width="473" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-01T152737.527-473x576.jpg 473w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-01T152737.527-246x300.jpg 246w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/05/Untitled-design-2026-05-01T152737.527.jpg 657w" sizes=" (max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px" />FBI</div>
On Thursday evening, authorities tracked Weaver to Somerset, Kentucky, which is about 40 miles southwest of Berea. A short time later, the FBI spotted Weaver&#8217;s vehicle on Interstate 75, and federal, state, and local law enforcement pursued the suspect in a high-speed chase.
The affidavit states that Weaver reached speeds of nearly 130 mph and dodged spike strips laid out in the road by law enforcement. The suspect eventually crashed as he was driving toward downtown Lexington, but escaped on foot. Authorities found a firearm in the suspect&#8217;s abandoned BMW. Weaver was finally arrested in downtown Lexington and faces federal charges of armed bank robbery and using/discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
&#8220;The perpetrator&#8217;s heinous actions were not only indefensible but cowardly,&#8221; <a href="https://www.wlwt.com/article/2-employees-killed-bank-robbery-berea-kentucky-suspect/71180865">said</a> Olivia Olson, the special agent in charge at the FBI&#8217;s Louisville field office. &#8220;While there is no longer imminent danger, we understand that the tragedy is far from over for the community. The only solace that we can offer is that this individual who valued a stolen dollar more than two human lives will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.&#8221;
The killings appear to be the first deadly shooting in a bank robbery in the United States since 2021, when a man <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndin/pr/gary-man-sentenced-2-consecutive-terms-life-prison">fatally shot</a> a security guard at a bank in Gary, Indiana, during an attempted robbery. In 2019, a 21-year-old man <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/former-prison-guard-trainee-is-sentenced-to-death-for-killing-5-women-at-a-florida-bank/">executed</a> five women at a SunTrust bank in Sebring, Florida. In that shooting, there was no indication that the gunman intended to rob the bank.
Bank robberies in the United States are becoming increasingly uncommon as banks improve security and hold less cash at any given time, reflecting society&#8217;s shift to digital payments.

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