Thomas Massie says he 'started a revolution' after crushing GOP primary defeat
Thomas Massie may have lost the Republican primary in Kentucky, but he expressed pride in being part of what he called a "revolution." Taking to social media, the campaign handle of Massie shared a video of hundreds of supporters chanting his name as he waved from the stage. "I lost the election, but we started a revolution. Keep the flame of LIBERTY burning, my friends! I will continue to put People and Principles before Party. America First!" the caption read.
I lost the election but we started a revolution. Keep the flame of LIBERTY burning my friends! I will continue to put People and Principles before Party. America First! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Qr0F0eEse2
— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) May 20, 2026
Massie lost to Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, in what became the most expensive primary race in GOP history. To amp up Gallrein's support, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also reached Kentucky to campaign for the former Navy SEAL in his personal capacity.
Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders claimed that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) spent $9 million, and "Trump megadonors" put in $7 million. "It was the most ever spent on a House primary race—all because he defied Trump on Gaza and Epstein," Sanders said.
AIPAC spent $9 million to take out Rep. Thomas Massie.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) May 20, 2026
Trump megadonors spent another $7 million.
It was the most ever spent on a House primary race—all because he defied Trump on Gaza and Epstein.
NO, billionaire super PACs should not buy our elections. One person, one vote.
Massie, too, pointed out the funding Gallrein received. Replying to a post by Senator Ted Cruz, where he shared Massie's statement about finding Gallrein "in Tel Aviv," Massie said on X that more than 95% of the Gallrein campaign's financial backing came from the "Israeli lobby." He also claimed that several million dollars were donated by an Israeli citizen who had even served in the IDF. "Sorry for your feels Ted," he added. The result of the Kentucky primary has further brought to light a divide within Republican supporters.
You wish I hadn’t pointed out that 95+% of my opponent’s funding came from the Israeli lobby, and millions of that came from a woman who has Israeli citizenship and served in the IDF?
— Thomas Massie for Congress (@MassieforKY) May 20, 2026
Sorry for your feels Ted.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, previously a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who is now one of the strongest critics of his policies, said that Massie's loss is not only the end of his political career, but also the end of MAGA. "This is the saddest moment in a long time," he added. "It's not just the death of Thomas Massie's immediate political career, which may be resurrected, one never knows. It's obviously the death of MAGA, whatever that was. But it’s also, of course, the end of the Republican Party as we thought we knew it. The Republican Party of right now bears absolutely no resemblance to the Republican Party we thought we had elected," Carlson wrote on X.
