On October 18, 2025, U.S. President Trump urged Navy veteran Ed Gallrein to join the election and challenge Republican federal congressman Thomas Massie in Kentucky. Although Gallrein has not announced his candidacy in next year’s midterm elections, Trump has already endorsed him.
Trump took to his social media platform, “Truth Social,” on Friday night to once again criticize Massie, calling him a “third-rate congressman” and a “pathetic ‘In Name Only’ Republican (RINO),” urging Republicans to quickly remove him from office.
Trump emphasized his love for Kentucky, where he has won decisively six times, and urged, “If Captain Ed Gallrein decides to challenge Massie, he will have my full and complete endorsement. Run, Ed, run – Make America Great Again (MAGA)!”
Gallrein ran for Kentucky State Senator in 2024 and on his campaign website, he is described as a farmer, small business owner, Navy veteran, retired Navy SEAL officer, and a decorated combat veteran.
In last year’s primary, he lost by a slim margin of 118 votes to Republican Aaron Reed, who later flipped the seat held by the current Democratic incumbent.
In a statement on Friday, Gallrein expressed his “deep honor for President Trump’s support” and praised Trump’s accomplishments while stating, “I will soon announce the next step of my plan!”
Massie, in a statement, criticized Trump’s advisers for choosing a “failed candidate.”
In May of this year, Massie was one of two Republican lawmakers who voted against Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in the U.S. House of Representatives. Since then, Trump has been hoping for other Republicans to challenge Massie in the 2026 midterm elections and ultimately secure his seat in the House.