Trump urges Navy veteran to challenge GOP Rep. Thomas Massie for Kentucky seat

President Donald Trump on Friday took another swipe at Rep. Thomas Massie, urging Navy veteran Ed Gallrein to challenge the Kentucky Republican for his seat in next year’s midterms.

“Third Rate Congressman Thomas Massie, a Weak and Pathetic RINO from the Great Commonwealth of Kentucky, a place I love, and won big SIX TIMES, must be thrown out of office, ASAP!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Friday night. “Should he decide to challenge Massie, Captain Ed Gallrein has my Complete and Total Endorsement. RUN, ED, RUN — MAGA!”

Gallrein previously campaigned for state Senate in Kentucky in 2024, describing himself on his campaign website at the time as a farmer, a small-business owner with experience in the armed forces as a retired Navy SEAL commissioned officer and a decorated combat veteran. He was defeated by 118 votes in the primary last year by Republican Aaron Reed, who unseated state Sen. Adrienne Southworth.

Massie said in a statement Friday that “Trump’s consultants clearly pushed the panic button with their choice of failed candidate and establishment hack Ed Gallrein.”

Gallrein said in a statement Friday that he was "honored by President Trump’s support."

"He is doing an amazing job securing the border, lowering taxes, and making America great again," Gallrein said. "I will make an announcement on what’s next soon!”

Massie, a seven-term congressman, ran uncontested in 2024 after easily beating back primary challenges from Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis.

Massie bucked Trump last month when he filed a discharge petition to force a floor vote to compel the Justice Department to release files tied to the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who died in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges in 2019.

Massie and Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a Democrat who co-authored the petition, collected signatures last month for the resolution, which requires support from 218 House members. They are shy one signature, which is expected to come from Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., when she is sworn in.

NBC News reported in June that Trump’s team had launched a super PAC tasked with unseating Massie, who has frequently broken with Trump’s domestic and foreign policy agenda and had backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign against Trump last year.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., when asked in June about Trump’s frustration about Massie and whether he would back Massie against a primary challenge, Johnson told NBC News: “I’m a leader of my party here, and the speaker leads the incumbent protection program. I got to make sure everybody gets re-elected.”

A spokesperson for Johnson declined to immediately comment on Friday night about whether the speaker would continue to back Massie if Gallrein entered the race.

Massie was first elected to the House in 2012 after winning a special election. He represents Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Kenton and Boon counties, among others.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com