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Hegseth unleashes on Massie in GOP primary showdown against Trump-backed Navy SEAL vet
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HEBRON, KY – Ed Gallrein, the Republican congressional candidate backed by President Donald Trump who is challenging Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky for the GOP nomination, landed extra firepower on the eve of the state’s primary.
Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL and Kentucky farmer, was joined on the campaign trail Monday by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Massie has long been one of Trump’s most vocal GOP critics in Congress and the Republican primary in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District, in the north-central part of the state, the latest test of Trump’s immense grip over the GOP.
«President Trump needs reinforcements, and that’s what war fighters do. They stand behind leaders and have their back,» Hegseth said at an event organized by America First Works, a Trump-aligned nonprofit political advocacy group.
TRUMP SCORES MAJOR PRIMARY VICTORY AS CASSIDY OUSTED IN LOUSIANA
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, right, joins former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, at an event on the eve of Kentucky’s primary, in Hebron, Kentucky on May 18, 2026. Gallrein is backed by President Donald Trump as he primary challenges Rep. Thomas Massie for the GOP nomination in the state’s fourth congressional district. (Jessica Sonkin/Fox News)
Massie, a libertarian-minded lawmaker who repeatedly takes aim at the president over foreign policy, including the Iran war and unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel, also successfully pushed for the release of government files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
But Hegseth argued that Massie’s record is one of «too much grandstanding, too few great votes, years of acting like being difficult is the same thing as being courageous. It’s not. Real courage means stepping up when the mission matters most, when we need that tough vote to beat left-wing lunatic Democrats the most.»
«President Trump does not need more people in Washington who are trying to make a point, especially from his own party. He needs people willing to help him win, to vote with him when it matters the most,» Hegseth added.
Hegseth’s remarks, which came soon after a stop at nearby Fort Campbell to award medals for service members, were rare for the civilian head of the nation’s military. Defense secretaries have traditionally avoided appearing at political events.
Ahead of the stop, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth would appear only «in his personal capacity» and that «no taxpayer dollars will be used to facilitate his visit.»
Hegseth noted the unusual appearance.
«I have to say up front, for the lawyers, that I’m here in my personal capacity as a private citizen, a fellow American, and a fellow combat veteran.»
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But Massie, who’s locked in a competitive clash with Gallrein in what’s become the most expensive congressional primary in history, claimed in a Fox News Digital interview on Monday that Hegseth’s stop «shows that I’m up in the polls. They wouldn’t be sending the Secretary of War to my congressional district if I weren’t.»
«I think it also shows I’m tougher than Iran, and I don’t even have a nuclear weapon. I mean, they are all in at this race. It’s basically a national race at this point, the most expensive race primary in congressional history, and that’s because, you know, I’m up there, I’m getting things done. I got the Epstein files released, I’m getting legislation in the farm bill, I’m getting legislation passed on the floor, and they want to shut me down,» Massie emphasized.
Gallrein, speaking with Fox News Digital ahead of his event with Hegseth, charged that Massie’s «running against President Trump, and the agenda that has been put forward by the Republican Party.»
Kentucky’s primary is being held two weeks after Indiana’s primary, where Trump-backed challengers ousted five sitting Republican state senators who last December teamed up with Democrats to defeat the president’s push for congressional redistricting in the GOP-dominated Midwestern state.
And the ballot box showdown in Kentucky comes three days after Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana was ousted as he sought renomination. The senator came in third in the primary, behind Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow and conservative Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming.
Cassidy’s political defeat came five and a half years after he voted to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for his role in the violent Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters who aimed to upend congressional certification of former President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. Trump was acquitted by the Senate.
Massie said he «absolutely can» overcome the Trump endorsement of Gallrein. «I’ve got the groundswell here, like my events. I’ve got 100-200 sometimes 300 people show up. My opponent had to cancel events because he couldn’t get enough people, you know, to fill up a Dairy Queen, half a Dairy Queen.»
SCOOP: TRUMP-BACKED FORMER NAVY SEAL LAUNCHES GOP PRIMARY CHALLENGE AGAINST MASSIE
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky campaigns on the eve of his state’s primary, in Mason County, Kentucky on May 18, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
The race has become the most expensive in House history in terms of ad spending, with over $32 million shelled out, according to the nationally known ad tracking firm AdImpact.
Much of that money has been shelled out by Trump’s allies and pro-Israel groups.
«Here’s the thing, I’ve got nothing against Israel. I just have never voted for foreign aid. When I said America First, I meant it. I don’t vote for foreign aid to Egypt, to Syria, to Ukraine. I’ve got a flawless record on this, and I’m not going to ruin it by sending foreign aid to one country,» Massie said as he defended his stance on Israel.
And Massie touted that while Trump’s allies and pro-Israel groups have spent tens of millions to take him out, he said, «I’ve got tens of thousands of grassroots donors who are funding me $50 at a time, $20 at a time. We’ve been able to match them to go toe to toe with them on TV using grassroots donors, and it’s really galvanized the nation.»
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U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) leaves to speak with the media after the House voted 427-1 to approve the Epstein Files Transparency Act and the release of documents and files at the U.S. Capitol on November 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images)
Trump has repeatedly targeted Massie in social media posts in the closing days of the primary campaign.
The president said in a video posted to Truth Social on Monday that he hoped Kentucky voters would put Massie «out of business» and that «we’re in a fight against the worst congressman in the history of our country.»
And Trump praised Gallrein as «a great guy» and «a great patriot.»
But Massie said Trump’s taunts on social media may backfire.
«It shows he’s losing sleep, his reputation is on the line. He really shouldn’t have got involved in this race, because I vote with him 90% of the time,» the congressman said.
pete hegseth, donald trump, primary results, republicans, elections, house of representatives, kentucky
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Ricky Pineda, el niño descalzo que venció la pobreza y se convirtió en el primer médico indígena nicaragüense en EE.UU.
Ricky Leopoldo Pineda, nacido en la comunidad indígena de Amak, territorio Mayangna Sauni Bu, dentro de la Reserva de Biósfera Bosawás, en Nicaragua, se convirtió en el primer médico de su etnia y el primero en ejercer en un hospital de Estados Unidos.
A los veintiséis años, Pineda se convirtió en el orgullo de los suyos en un territorio olvidado por el Estado nicaragüense y marcado por la precariedad sanitaria, según lo documentó Voz de América, el periódico 100% Noticias y otros medios locales que documentaron la emotiva historia de este joven.
De los ocho hijos de la familia Pineda, Ricky era el tercero. La pobreza y el trabajo en el campo junto a su abuelo y su padre, Leopoldo Pineda Padilla, marcaron su infancia.
Desde los seis años, los niños de la zona acompañan a sus mayores a la montaña y a la siembra. Ricky asistía a la escuela descalzo, con un solo cuaderno, detallan las publicaciones.
La vocación de sacerdote se desvaneció el día en que su madre casi muere en un parto sin asistencia médica. “Muchas campesinas fallecían por muerte materna. Necesitaban a alguien que los ayudara”, explicó Ricky. El último parto de su madre ocurrió en una lancha, en medio de la selva, sin un médico, solo con una partera.
En 2022, la mortalidad materna en Nicaragua fue de 31.4 por cada 100,000 nacimientos. Ese año, 37 mujeres murieron en el país por causas asociadas al embarazo, sobre todo en el centro-norte y la Costa Caribe, según el Ministerio de Salud. La Organización Mundial de la Salud define muerte materna como aquella que ocurre desde la gestación hasta 42 días después del parto.
Una beca permitió a Pineda estudiar Medicina en la Universidad Católica del Trópico Seco (UCATSE) de 2015 a 2022. El obispo Abelardo Mata, entonces director de la universidad, facilitó el acceso a jóvenes sin recursos. El gobierno de Daniel Ortega clausuró la universidad y otras seis en febrero de 2022, alegando inconsistencias financieras.
Desde la mitad de la carrera, Ricky realizó prácticas prehospitalarias en centros de salud rurales. “Fui voluntario de los enfermeros, después estuve tres o cuatro meses en la montaña con las enfermeras. Íbamos a vacunar”. Ejercía de manera independiente, dando consultas privadas y visitando comunidades.
Anexa Alfred, del Mecanismo de Expertos sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, confirmó a Voz de América que las comunidades indígenas en Nicaragua enfrentan condiciones de extrema vulnerabilidad en salud y educación.
A los once años, Ricky dejó Amak para estudiar secundaria en Jinotega. No hablaba español. Una amiga de la familia le dio alojamiento. Aprendió el idioma mientras trabajaba limpiando jardines, enseñando mayangna y realizando otras tareas para costear sus estudios.
El trayecto se repitió en Estados Unidos. Antes de entrar al hospital, trabajó empaquetando productos y en un buffet. Su rutina incluía asistir a conferencias médicas y a la capilla del hospital para orar.
“Una cosa que doblé el esfuerzo es que yo iba las veces que podía a la capilla del hospital a orar para que Dios me diera una oportunidad, tan solo una”.
Obtuvo una beca para una maestría en Epidemiología y Salud Pública y presentó su currículum al UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital, en Denver. Tras superar exámenes y cursos, fue contratado en el área de cirugía, con turno completo de ocho horas. El idioma fue otra barrera: “Me esforcé el triple para poder aprender un poco y dar el salto a mi área, que es la medicina”.
En Denver recibió apoyo de otros médicos latinoamericanos, como Kenneth Meza y Daniel Fuenmayor. “Para mí significa muchísimo trabajar como el primer médico indígena de Nicaragua en un hospital tan prestigioso a nivel mundial como lo es UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital. Por encima de todo, la gracia y la gloria se las doy a Dios y a mi gente, que siempre han sido un motor para mí”.
Ricky sueña con especializarse en cirugía general y desarrollar la Fundación Dr. Ricky Bosawás, para apoyar a comunidades indígenas y promover oportunidades educativas para niños y jóvenes nicaragüenses.
“Mi mensaje a los jóvenes es que no tengan miedo de luchar por sus sueños, que sueñen alto y oren mucho a Dios, porque Dios cumple los sueños y nos lleva a lugares que nunca nos imaginamos”, contó a un medio local el joven.
Las luchas de Ricky Pineda llevan el nombre de su familia y de su comunidad, a la espera de que otro niño de Bosawás mire el hospital y piense que, algún día, el volar tan alto como él.
Ricky Pineda,Mayangna,Indígena,Médico,Nicaragua,Bosawás,Denver,UCHealth,Salud,Acuarela
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WATCH: Mamdani bashed for going ‘full deranged marxist’ with rip on famous Ronald Reagan line
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New York City’s socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, is facing backlash for criticizing a famous quote from former President Ronald Reagan, who cautioned about the dangers of big government.
Mamdani, a democratic socialist and New York’s first Muslim mayor, voiced his disagreement with the beloved conservative president as he launched the first of his long-promised city-run grocery stores in the Bronx.
«Standing here this morning, I cannot help but think of the words of our 40th president, Ronald Reagan. He famously said the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help,’» he said. «It’s a good quote, but I disagree.»
Instead, Mamdani said, «I think nine more terrifying words are actually, ‘I worked all day and can’t feed my family.’»
He went on to promise, «We are going to use the power of government to lower prices and make it easier for New Yorkers to put food on the table,» adding, «When government understands its purpose as serving the very working people that it has left behind, time and again, it can make a difference in the most pressing struggles facing our city today.»
BISHOP BARRON SLAMS ‘BORDERLINE COMMUNISTS’ SANDERS, MAMDANI AHEAD OF TRUMP PRAYER EVENT: ‘ECONOMY THAT KILLS’
New York City socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, turned a famous quote of President Ronald Reagan’s on its head, saying that his government-run grocery stores «will serve as physical proof of our conviction that government can be a force for good, that government can drive change that improves people’s lives.» (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images; Michael Evans/The White House/Getty Images)
«It’s not just that government can help, it’s that government must help, and our government will help,» he continued.
Mamdani made his promise of opening affordable, government-run grocery stores throughout the city a central tenet of his campaign. He said on Monday that the first location, a 20,000-square-foot store in the Bronx, will open at some point in 2027.
This is the second of the five promised stores to be officially announced. Mamdani previously announced an East Harlem location for the city’s 9,000-square-foot Manhattan flagship store, but that location will be built from the ground up and is slated to open in 2029.
Mamdani said the Bronx location, along with the planned mixed-use development dubbed the «Peninsula,» «will serve as physical proof of our conviction that government can be a force for good, that government can drive change that improves people’s lives.»
SOCIALIST MAMDANI TOUTS GOVERNMENT-RUN GROCERY PLAN AS ‘GRAND EXPERIMENT’’ AT GROCERY NEW SITE
La Marqueta, a Latino marketplace in East Harlem, is chosen as the site of the first city-owned grocery store announced by NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, on April 14, 2026. (Kendall Rodriguez/Newsday RM/Getty Images)
Though cheered by the crowd at his announcement, Mamdani’s dig at Reagan earned him scorn from conservatives online.
Conservative commentator Eric Daugherty posted on X: «What a FREAKING DISASTER! He REALLY thinks this will work.»
Daugherty accused the mayor of going «FULL DERANGED MARXIST,» telling New Yorkers to be «prepared for utter failure.»
Turning Point USA spokesman Andrew Kolvet posted on X that Mamdani had «flipped Ronald Reagan’s warning upside down,» writing that «his answer is government-run grocery stores that will use taxpayer advantages to undercut private competition.»
Jennifer Harrison, founder of the Victims Rights Reform Council, pointed to ongoing public transportation woes in New York City amid widespread strikes, writing on X, «Bc everything government run, like the MTA, is working out so well for Nyers.»
DEM WHO WELCOMED SOCIALIST MAYOR’S ‘CHANGE’ NOW SOUNDING ALARM OVER BILLIONAIRE EXODUS: ‘GRAVELY CONCERNED’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reacts while being introduced during a union rally on Park Avenue in New York City on April 15, 2026. (Seth Wenig/AP Photo)
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Meanwhile, the official X account for the GOP simply reposted the clip, labeling Mamdani a «communist.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani for comment.
zohran mamdani, new york, new york city, reagan, socialism, politics
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