President Trump has recently shown support for Ed Gullane, a potential opponent to Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who has been a controversial figure among Republicans lately.
Trump announced his backing for Gullane in the upcoming 2026 Kentucky Republican primary.
In a post on social media, he mentioned, “I hope Ed gets into the race against Massey, but he’s currently polling around 9%. The voters of Kentucky see through him. Ed typically votes against Republicans, which is a very comfortable position for the radical left.” He also stated, “Unlike ‘Lightweight’ Massey, a total loser who has let us down, Captain Ed Gullane is a solid candidate who delivers results.”
As of now, Gullane has not made a formal decision regarding a run for the Kentucky House of Representatives, especially after a prior loss in the state Senate race last year.
Still, Trump asserted, “Captain Ed Gullane has my full and complete support if he chooses to take on Massey.”
However, a spokesperson for Gullane’s campaign pushed back against the endorsement, saying, “It’s clear Mr. Trump’s advisors are panicking after being rejected by every local official in the 4th Congressional District. Ed has been asking them to endorse him for over three months.”
Massie has been at odds with Trump and Republican congressional leaders on various policy matters, notably tax policy this summer.
He is also involved in significant discussions in Congress related to the Jeffrey Epstein case, as he and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced a bipartisan petition to push for the release of documents pertinent to the late sex offender’s legal issues. This effort has faced opposition from many Republicans.
Interestingly, Trump’s critical remarks about Massie have provided a fundraising boost for the congressman. Recently, he reported raising a record $768,000 from July to September, giving him over $2 million in available funds for his re-election.
Massie’s campaign quickly responded to Trump’s endorsement of Gullane, urging supporters to rally behind him. “Mr. Trump just endorsed someone to run against me. With your support, I can defeat this candidate. We just had our best fundraising quarter ever. Can you help us keep this momentum?” his campaign wrote on social media.
According to his campaign website, Massie holds top ratings from various conservative organizations, claiming to be the most right-leaning lawmaker in Kentucky.
