Trump Calls Rep. Massie 'the Worst' at Ky. Rally, Backs Gallrein

[ad_1] President Donald Trump criticized Rep. Thomas Massie at a rally Wednesday at a packing plant in Kentucky, escalating his feud with the libertarian-leaning Republican whereas selling Massie's main challenger, Navy SEAL veteran Ed Gallrein.

Addressing a cheering crowd, Trump accused the seven-term lawmaker of constantly opposing the GOP's priorities.

"He is the worst," Trump mentioned. "He solely votes no. He simply votes no.

"It would not matter. I might give him one of the best issues within the historical past of a Republican voter, and he'd vote no. There's something unsuitable with him."

Trump additionally accused Massie of being disloyal to each his celebration and his nation.

"He's disloyal to the Republican Occasion. He is disloyal to the individuals of Kentucky. And most significantly, he's disloyal to the USA of America," Trump mentioned, including that "anyone with a heat physique" might defeat Massie in a Republican main.

The president asserted that Massie had sided with Democrats on key points corresponding to tax coverage and border safety.

"Massie voted in opposition to tax cuts for seniors. He voted in opposition to tax cuts for time beyond regulation employees. And he voted in opposition to tax cuts for tip earners," Trump mentioned. "He voted in opposition to our historic funding for border safety."

Trump additionally used the rally to focus on Gallrein, a farmer he endorsed to problem Massie within the GOP main.

"You deserve an genuine, true Republican conservative that stands shoulder to shoulder with our president and the Republican Occasion and in opposition to the Democrats who're attempting to destroy our nation," Gallrein advised the group.

"The president understands that. The Republican Occasion understands that, and also you all perceive that, and I perceive that," Gallrein added, main supporters in a chant of "USA."

The conflict displays a long-running rigidity between Trump and Massie, who has often damaged with celebration management and opposed a number of Trump-backed measures in Congress.

Massie, a fiscal conservative identified for difficult massive spending payments and emergency laws, has at instances drawn criticism from Trump and different Republican leaders for voting in opposition to main GOP initiatives.