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Forget Kentucky's People – Hegseth Says Thomas Massie Should Serve Trump

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At a campaign event for former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Rep. Thomas Massie should be voted out in Tuesday's Republican primary for Kentucky because President Donald Trump "needs people willing to help him win" – confirming other loyalists' recent comments that the current GOP is the party of Trump, regardless of what constituents need.

"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," Hegseth, who has faced ethics concerns over getting involved in electoral politics, said Monday. The Pentagon chief said he was at the event in Hebron, Kentucky, as a private citizen.

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Trump has spent the past year attacking Massie, a staunch conservative, for voting against the Big, Beautiful Bill, leading efforts to release the Epstein files and opposing the Iran war that Hegseth and the president involved the U.S. in.

"Too often Thomas Massie has acted like his job is to stand apart from the movement that President Trump leads instead of strengthening it," Hegseth said. "When President Trump needs backup, Massie wants to debate process. When the movement needs unity, especially at the biggest moments, Massie's willing to vote with Democrats."

The president has endorsed Gallrein, who throughout his campaign refused to debate Massie. Polls show the incumbent is still leading in the race.