HEBRON, Ky. — President Donald Trump wants Northern Kentucky voters to know that incumbent 4th Congressional District Rep. Thomas Massie has got to go.

While Trump’s stop in Hebron Wednesday was intended to focus on his message on affordability heading into this year’s midterm elections, the president’s speech often veered into the political, bashing Massie, a fellow Republican, for voting against his agenda.

The president called Massie, who has held his post representing most of Northern Kentucky for more than a decade, a loser, “Rand Paul Jr.,” and a “total disaster as a congressman, and, frankly, a human being.”

Trump was joined on stage by Ed Gallrein, a military veteran and farmer from Shelby County who lost a narrow state senate GOP primary in 2024. The president backed Gallrein’s challenge against Massie before Gallrein even officially entered the race.

“He’s the worst person... His name is Thomas Massie. How did he ever end up here?” Trump asked the crowd gathered in a facility owned by Verst Logistics near the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport in Boone County.

The remarks came as no surprise to Massie, who said before the rally he expected it.

“Look, I was in his prayers at the (National) Prayer Breakfast, so I expect I’ll be in his speech at this logistics facility,” Massie told the Herald-Leader Tuesday.

Massie has been a frequent critic of many decisions by the Trump administration, including most of its major foreign policy decisions as well as its handling of the files related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The congressman joined forces with Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California in successfully pushing legislation that forced the release of much of the investigative files related to Epstein.

Trump called Gallrein an incredible candidate and a “real hero” for his military service.

“He didn’t want to run for office,” Trump said of Gallrein, who ran for state legislative office in 2024.

Trump recalled to the crowd that he asked for “somebody with a warm body to beat Massie.”

“But I got somebody with a warm body, but a big, beautiful brain and (he’s) a great patriot,” Trump said.

Having previously run in a seat that was only partially in the 4th Congressional District, Gallrein’s name ID began the race relatively low. He’s relied largely on television ads to catch up with Massie, a congressional veteran, in that arena.

The president offered a direct response to a recent ad from Massie’s campaign highlighting the fact that Gallrein left the GOP in 2016, rejoining later in 2021.

“Ed became an independent a few years ago because he was so angry at the way the Republican Party was operating. And I don’t disagree with him. Other people did, too. But then Ed came back, and he came back strong because I got involved, and he came back stronger than he ever was. And now he’s all the way,” Trump said.

Trump compared Massie to a fellow Kentucky lawmaker, Sen. Rand Paul, whom he criticized for “voting against everything.”

“We call him Rand Paul, Jr., he votes against everything. At least I like Rand a little bit,” Trump said. “I could give him the best things in the history of a Republican voter, and he’d vote no. There’s something wrong.”

Massie was opposed to Trump’s marquee budget bill on the grounds that it is projected to add to the already-increasing national debt. Trump knocked Massie because he didn’t support the items that he believed to be beneficial, like a tax cut on overtime pay.

“Massie voted against tax cuts for seniors, he voted against tax cuts for overtime workers, and he voted against tax cuts for tip earners,” Trump said.

Trump offered several different derogatory designations for Massie throughout the speech.

“Massie’s a complete and total disaster as a congressman, and, frankly, as a human being,” Trump said.

He hammered home throughout the speech: those in attendance should vote for Gallrein over Massie.

“Get rid of this loser. This guy is bad. He’s disloyal to the Republican Party, he’s disloyal to the people of Kentucky, and, most importantly, he is disloyal to the United States of America,” Trump said.

Gallrein took the stage for a brief speech touting Trump’s endorsement

“I want to thank you for your endorsement, because once you did that my support skyrocketed,” Gallrein said. “I look forward to serving the people as their representative of Kentucky district four, because, as you folks know, you deserve an authentic, true Republican conservative that stands shoulder to shoulder with our president and the Republican Party and against the Democrats who are trying to destroy our nation.”

Gallrein then led the crowd in a chant of “U.S.A.,” before ending on a reference to “The View,” an ABC daytime talk show hosted by women and often lampooned by conservatives.

“I hope the fake news gets this: Tom Massie stands with the ladies of The View. Mr. President, we stand with you,” Gallrein said.

Trump also gave brief shoutouts to all three leading candidates for the GOP nomination to the U.S. Senate to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell: Rep. Andy Barr, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron and Lexington tech entrepreneur Nate Morris.

The rest of Trump’s speech

The start of Trump’s speech was focused more on the economy, current affairs and the state of Kentucky.

Trump touched briefly on the conflict in Iran, where the U.S. has killed several Iranian leaders and targeted military installations in conjunction with longtime ally Israel. He framed the U.S. action there as a success.

“They don’t know what the hell hit them, right?” Trump said.

“Their air force is gone — totally gone. That took the better part of about three hours. They no longer have radar. They don’t have anti-aircraft equipment. They don’t have anything. Their missiles are down 90%, their drones are down 85%. We’re blowing up the factories where they’re made left and right,” Trump said.

Trump and other politicians were not the only ones on stage.

“You are in Trump country right now,” Paul Verst, CEO of Verst Logistics, said in a brief speech touting the area’s support for the president.

Northern Kentucky has been a deep red pocket of the state in recent years. Boone County gave Trump his highest vote margin, 25,000, of any of Kentucky’s 120 counties.

Sammy Biddle, a general manager and bartender at Pensive Distilling in the area, said that Trump’s backing of cutting taxes on tips will help her achieve her lifelong dream of buying land.

“Like most servers and bartenders, a big portion of my salary comes from working double shifts and tips,” Biddle said.

Trump also invited Jake Paul, a popular YouTube star and amateur boxer from nearby Ohio, onto the stage.

“God is with us. I know he wants us on the right side of history, and everyone here has to do their part. God’s got us, Trump’s got us. God bless. Love you, Kentucky,” Paul said.

_____

©2026 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.