United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth campaigned against a sitting Republican congressman. The unconventional slamming of a vocal critic of President Donald Trump occurred amid the ongoing war in Iran.
Pete Hegseth campaigns against Thomas Massie
Pete Hegseth travelled to Kentucky to endorse Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL challenging Representative Thomas Massie in what has become the most expensive House primary in American history. Voters head to the polls on Tuesday.
Hegseth accused Massie of undermining Trump’s agenda. “Too often, Thomas Massie has acted like his job is to stand apart from the movement that President Trump leads instead of strengthening it,” the Defense Secretary said. “When the movement needs unity, especially at the biggest moment, Massie’s willing to vote with Democrats,” he later added.
Thomas Massie has clashed with Donald Trump repeatedly, voting against major legislation and leading efforts to force the release of government files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking on ABC’s This Week on Sunday, the congressman said the president’s social media attacks boost his fundraising and claimed Trump is “desperate” to see him defeated.
Moreover, Pete Hegseth’s appearance broke with longstanding tradition. Defense secretaries typically avoid partisan events, especially during wartime, to preserve the military’s apolitical standing. Since taking office last year, however, Hegseth has upended several norms. He has led Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, called out reporters, and more during the war with Iran.
Hegseth addressed the legal sensitivity directly, telling the crowd he was attending in a personal capacity. The distinction is made because of the Hatch Act, which restricts federal employees from using official positions to sway elections. Furthermore, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, defended the trip. He said, “No taxpayer dollars will be used to facilitate his visit. His participation has been thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers,” in a statement (via Reuters).
All in all, the Kentucky primary fits a broader pattern. Trump has moved aggressively against Republicans who have crossed him.
