In the Republican primary in Kentucky on Tuesday, Massie was clearly defeated with around 45 percent of the vote by Trump-backed challenger Ed Gallrein, who got around 55 percent. Trump said his opponent deserved defeat. “Thomas Massie is a terrible congressman,” the president said during the ongoing vote. “I think he’s actually a Democrat.”
After his defeat, Massie said that if there were no more independent minds in Congress, it would be the end of democracy: “If the legislature always votes with the president, then we have a king,” he said to cheering supporters. On the other hand, if the legislature follows the US Constitution, then “we have a republic.”
The 55-year-old also indicated that he wanted to continue his political career. He did not rule out running for president in 2028. “We’ll talk about it later,” he told his supporters, who chanted “President” and “2028.”
Trump had been mobilizing for months against Massie, who has represented Kentucky in the House of Representatives since the end of 2012. US media described the election campaign in the southern state as the most expensive in US history. The advertising expenditure is said to have amounted to more than 32 million dollars (a good 27 million euros). A large part of it came from pro-Israel groups close to Trump that reject Massie.
Massie is an electrical engineer, inventor and entrepreneur and is one of a dwindling number of Republicans still speaking out against Trump in Congress. He had opposed US military operations in Iran and Venezuela, criticized aid to Israel and, together with Democratic MPs, helped push for the release of files on former Trump friend and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump’s plan to force opponents out of his own party is already well advanced. Just on Sunday, the president celebrated the primary election defeat of the long-time Republican Senator from Louisiana, Bill Cassidy.
Other Republicans are not even standing for re-election in Congress after arguments with Trump. Trump also wants to help a henchman win in the Senate primary election in the state of Texas next week. In order to force incumbent John Cornyn, who is part of the Republican establishment, out of office, the president is supporting scandal-ridden Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The congressional midterm elections, the so-called midterms, will take place on November 3rd. They are seen as the most important mood test so far for Trump, who has lost ground in polls. The massive increase in fuel prices against the background of the Iran war is particularly causing discontent.
