Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, who is facing off against Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein in today’s primary election, has reportedly sent voters a text message of a 2022 statement from President Donald Trump endorsing the candidate.
Kentucky election day shenanigans;
— ZitoSalena (@ZitoSalena) May 19, 2026
Massie campaign sends out to KY 4 voters via text a 2022 Trump
statement making it look like the president supports Massie today where he clearly supports Gallrein
Text ends with "Paid for by Thomas Massie for Congress
Reply STOP to opt-out" pic.twitter.com/cJwFB75Dkk
According to Salena Zito, the message contained an Associated Press headline entitled: “Trump endorses Kentucky congressman he once denounced” with a statement from Trump’s 2022 endorsement of Massie under laid. The language of the endorsement does not appear anywhere in the 2022 Associate Press article. The date from Trump's 2022 does not appear anywhere in the graphic sent out via text.
NEW!
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) May 10, 2022
President Donald J. Trump announces his Endorsement of Congressman Thomas Massie pic.twitter.com/5CgV7rjpYH
The message ended with a disclaimer that this was an ad paid for by Massie’s campaign.
Zito accused Massie of “making it look like the president supports Massie today where he clearly supports Gallrein.” Trump and his key allies have campaigned hard against Massie in the lead up to the primary election.
Trump issued a statement short after the message was sent out demanding that the Massie campaign retract the false endorsement.
President Trump SLAMS "Horrible Congressman" Thomas Massie for sending out a "fraudulent" campaign text making it sound like Trump endorsed HIM instead of Ed Gallrein pic.twitter.com/irGwarvU0f
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) May 19, 2026
White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair denounced the move by Massie, calling it “scum bag behavior."
Scumbag behavior.
— James Blair (@JamesBlairUSA) May 19, 2026
Massie’s entire existence is built on lying to people.
This is just more evidence. https://t.co/aYnGc6WUgI
“Massie’s entire existence is built on lying to people,” Blair added.
The primary bout between Massie and Gallrein will be decided tonight, May 19.