GOP lawmakers brushed aside concerns over President Donald Trump targeting GOP incumbents after Rep. Thomas Massie’s, R-Ky., loss, as several Republicans stressed the need for unity to advance the Republican agenda.

Massie lost to congressional candidate Ed Gallrein in Kentucky’s Republican primary last week after months of escalating attacks from Trump, who publicly criticized the Kentucky Republican over repeated breaks with the president and opposition to parts of the GOP agenda.

«Primaries happen,» Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told Fox News Digital. «We move through that, but it’s back to the business of the American people, so you know, my hope is that everybody just gets focused on that.»

MTG SAYS GOP’S FUTURE ‘DESTROYED’ AFTER TRUMP-BACKED PRIMARY CHALLENGER DEFEATS THOMAS MASSIE IN PRIMARY

Massie had long been one of the most outspoken Republican critics of parts of Trump’s agenda in Congress, drawing repeated attacks from the president over spending fights and other legislative disputes. Trump intensified his criticism of Massie in the months leading up to the primary, backing efforts to oust him from Congress.

The stakes are particularly high for Republicans as the party works to maintain its slim House majority over Democrats while navigating internal divisions over Trump’s agenda and political influence.

Despite speculation that Trump’s strategy of targeting GOP incumbents could be harmful to the party, many lawmakers stood by Trump’s decision to make his personal endorsements as he sees fit. 

«I think Trump is going to be Trump, and not everybody’s going to agree with what he does,» Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, said. «The fact is that he’s been incredibly effective.»

«He gets to endorse who he wants to endorse,» Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said. 

SNUBBED BY TRUMP, GOP CANDIDATES FIGHTING FOR RE-ELECTION ACT LIKE THEY HAVE HIS BACKING ANYWAY

President Donald Trump arrives at the commencement ceremony on Cadet Memorial Field at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., on May 20, 2026. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Still, some Republicans acknowledged Trump’s aggressive involvement in primaries could create complications inside the conference, particularly for members no longer worried about reelection.

«It’s not lost on a lot of people, I think, that the reason that the president doesn’t like those members could be… they can get the last laugh if you will as they are untethered now to reelection.»

Others emphasized that with Republicans operating under narrow margins in the House, lawmakers have little room for prolonged battles within the party as leadership works to move Trump-backed legislation through Congress.

«We have a tight bracket that we have to, every week, fulfill,» Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, said. «And as we move through primaries, as we move towards the election, we need the team. We need members to show up.»

DEMOCRAT TAKEOVER FEARS RISE AS GOP CLINGS TO SLIM HOUSE MAJORITY

Rep. Pete Sessions, co-chair of the Congressional DOGE Caucus, speaks during a session. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)

Republicans also stressed the importance of gearing up both voters and members of Congress to be aligned ahead of the midterms as the party works to defend its narrow House majority in November.

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«Ultimately, that’s up to the voters in those states and districts as to who wins these primaries and it’s up every member to make sure they win,» Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said.

«As far as the rest of the Congress, look, we have a lot of work to do on behalf of the American people. And unless you suddenly change your view on these issues, one would think you would still represent your district and state appropriately.»

La empresa aeroespacial SpaceX lanzó con éxito este viernes la última versión de su gigantesco cohete Starship, en un vuelo de prueba considerado clave tanto para el futuro comercial de la compañía como para los planes espaciales de Estados Unidos. El despegue estaba previsto para el miércoles, pero desperfectos técnicos hicieron que se postergue dos veces.

El lanzamiento finalmente ocurrió a las 17:30 de este viernes, hora local (19:30 de Argentina), desde la base de lanzamiento de la empresa en el sur de Texas, en un contexto de enorme expectativa por el avance del proyecto y por la inminente salida a bolsa de la firma fundada por Elon Musk.

Durante la retransmisión en directo del despegue, el portavoz de la empresa, Dan Huot, declaró que las dos partes del aparato parecen haberse separado como estaba previsto, pero el propulsor no completó una combustión necesaria para dirigirse hacia un aterrizaje controlado.

La prueba se realizó apenas dos días después de que SpaceX presentara ante los reguladores financieros estadounidenses la documentación necesaria para cotizar en bolsa, en una operación que podría concretarse en junio y convertirse en una de las ofertas públicas iniciales (IPO) más grandes de la historia reciente del sector tecnológico.

El nuevo Starship V3, de unos 124 metros de altura, fue el protagonista del duodécimo vuelo de prueba del programa, aunque el primero en siete meses.

La compañía transmitió en directo la misión y aprovechó el lanzamiento para mostrar los avances tecnológicos del sistema, considerado fundamental para los objetivos de exploración lunar de la NASA.

A diferencia de ensayos anteriores, SpaceX no organizó una maniobra para recuperar el propulsor de la primera etapa, algo que ya había ejecutado con éxito en pruebas previas.

Durante la misión, que duró unos 65 minutos, la nave desplegó 20 satélites ficticios y dos satélites Starlink modificados especialmente con cámaras para estudiar el comportamiento del escudo térmico del vehículo durante el reingreso atmosférico. La parte superior del cohete terminó amerizando en el océano Índico.

Aunque las últimas misiones de Starship concluyeron satisfactoriamente, el programa sufrió varios reveses en el pasado. Algunas pruebas terminaron en explosiones, incluso después de alcanzar el espacio, y en junio de 2025 una etapa superior explotó durante un ensayo en tierra.

El nuevo vuelo también se desarrolla bajo la sombra de un reciente accidente laboral en las instalaciones de Texas, donde un trabajador murió tras caer de un andamio, según reportes locales.

Leé también: Las claves para entender por qué Elon Musk fue el gran perdedor en el juicio contra los creadores de ChatGPT

La misión llega además en un momento decisivo para la carrera espacial. La NASA contrató a SpaceX para desarrollar una versión adaptada de Starship que funcione como módulo de alunizaje dentro del programa Programa Artemis, cuyo objetivo es llevar nuevamente astronautas a la Luna antes de finales de 2028.

El proyecto cobra aún más relevancia frente al avance de China, que apunta a concretar su primera misión lunar tripulada hacia 2030. Dentro del gobierno del presidente Donald Trump crece la preocupación por la posibilidad de que Estados Unidos pierda liderazgo en la nueva carrera espacial.

“Hay mucho en juego”, afirmó el físico G. Scott Hubbard, exdirector del Centro de Investigación Ames de la NASA y actual académico de la Universidad de Stanford. Según el especialista, el desafío técnico más complejo sigue siendo demostrar capacidades de reabastecimiento orbital con combustible superenfriado, una tecnología todavía no probada y considerada indispensable para futuras misiones de espacio profundo.

En paralelo, la competencia con Blue Origin, la firma aeroespacial creada por Jeff Bezos, también presiona los tiempos del sector privado. Ambas compañías buscan posicionarse como actores centrales en la futura economía lunar y en los contratos multimillonarios vinculados a la exploración espacial.

(Con información de AFP)

FIRST ON FOX: Vulnerable border Democrat Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., is being slammed for «hypocrisy» in his pro-law enforcement stance after a Black Lives Matter post and interview calling to «deconstruct» and «defund» the police resurfaced.

Vasquez, widely reported as a «moderate Democrat» and a self-described «bipartisan player,» also recently voted against a House resolution expressing support for law enforcement officers and condemning defund the police efforts and sanctuary policies.

With Republicans holding a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives, every congressional seat considered competitive is critical to both parties in this midterm election. Vasquez’s New Mexico swing district in particular is considered highly vulnerable and is a top target for the GOP this cycle.

TEXAS DEM TALARICO’S ‘CULTURE OF VIOLENCE’ REMARKS RESURFACE AS HE DENIES DEFUND POLICE TIES

This week, Vasquez published an opinion piece in the Las Cruces Sun News in which he argued police officers «deserve thanks, support and funding.» In the piece, Vasquez pointed to the funding streams he helped secure for local law enforcement and wrote that «no amount of public recognition can ever fully express the gratitude they deserve.»

However, a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman said, «Defund the police Gabe Vasquez’s shameless hypocrisy isn’t fooling anyone.»

On June 1, 2020, exactly a week after the death of George Floyd and in the midst of widespread anti-police riots, Vasquez, a Las Cruces city council member at the time, posted on social media, «Black lives matter. Until we deconstruct and rebuild the systems of oppression that keep black people in perpetual harm, justice will not be served.

«That includes law enforcement, the economy, and the disgusting wealth inequality that keeps white rich men in power.»

A 2022 article published by The Washington Free Beacon brought up a local news interview with a masked man resembling Vasquez but named «James Hall» at a 2020 George Floyd protest.

In the interview, the man says, «We need serious police reform in this country,» and «it’s not just about defunding police, it’s about defunding a system that privileges white people over everyone else.» 

The outlet reported that deleted screenshots of social media posts showed Vasquez present at that same rally.

The Free Beacon wrote that a Vasquez spokesperson confirmed he was the man who made those statements, saying, «The name was attributed to him by the news station when he declined to give his name as he wanted the focus to be on the organizers.»

DEM CANDIDATE’S ZIONIST CASTRATION RANT SPARKS FIRESTORM AS PARTY LEADERS REWRITE NARRATIVE TO TARGET GOP

A defund the police sign (Getty Images)

More recently, during National Police Week last week, Vasquez voted against a resolution expressing support for law enforcement officers. The measure praised police officers’ service and sacrifice, condemned «defund the police» rhetoric, criticized sanctuary city policies and credited Trump-era «law and order» policies with helping reduce violent crime.

Democrats argued the resolution was overly partisan and politicized.

This week, Vasquez published an opinion piece in which he detailed recent visits with local law enforcement leaders and wrote, «I will always stand with our law enforcement officers.»

He also touted a $250,000 cutout he secured for the Carlsbad Police Department, as well as a $1.06 million investment for Albuquerque’s Real Time Crime Center and a $500,000 investment for technology and training upgrades at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office.

Vasquez emphasized in his column that, «in addition to our thanks and admiration, they also need and deserve resources, investments, and funding.»

A Vasquez campaign spokesperson responded to the new criticisms by telling Fox News Digital, «If you want to know where Vasquez stands on public safety, look at the receipts.

«This year alone, Vasquez singlehandedly brought $1.8 million home for local police departments from Albuquerque to Carlsbad to pay for technology, station upgrades and facilities for more officers to keep themselves and New Mexicans safe.»

The campaign also pointed to a recent speech Vasquez delivered on the House floor honoring Doña Ana County Deputy Sheriff Antonio Aleman, who was killed in the line of duty in 2025. 

MAMDANI-STYLE DC MAYORAL HOPEFUL DRAGGED OVER ‘EXACTLY BACKWARDS’ RESPONSE TO VIOLENT TEEN MOBS

GOP congressional candidate Greg Cunningham, left, pictured next to a «Latinos for Trump» sign. (Fox News; Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

His critics, however, believe his prior statements will come back to haunt him in November.

Richardson told Fox News Digital «New Mexicans know Vasquez is firmly anti-law enforcement, which is why they’ll elect long-time Albuquerque Police Officer Greg Cunningham to replace him this fall.»

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A Marine veteran and 20-year New Mexico law enforcement officer, Cunningham is running unopposed in the GOP primary for the seat.

In a statement shared with Fox News Digital, Cunningham asserted that Vasquez «wants New Mexicans to forget who he really is.»

«He spent years parroting the same anti-police rhetoric that gutted morale and hollowed out departments across this country. Now, six months out from an election, he writes a love letter to law enforcement and hopes nobody remembers the rest,» he said.

«I remember. So do the officers I served alongside for years on the streets of Albuquerque. I know what it’s like to work a drug case at three in the morning. I know what these drugs are doing to New Mexico families, because I spent my career going after the people pushing them. And I know the difference between a politician who shows up for a Police Week photo op and a leader who has his officers’ backs the other 51 weeks of the year.»

He added that «when I get to Washington, the men and women wearing the badge in NM-02 will finally have something they have not had in this seat. One of their own.»