Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday railed against one of President Donald Trump’s chief Republican critics in Congress, stepping away from the Iran war and into a Kentucky congressional election that’s testing the president’s political clout.Hegseth traveled to Kentucky to deliver his remarks, which were designed to undermine Rep. Thomas Massie on the eve of his primary in the state’s 4th Congressional District. Hegseth said he was speaking “as a private citizen” — and not as a member of Trump’s Cabinet. And yet Hegseth referenced Trump over and over as he praised Massie’s rival, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein.“President Trump needs reinforcements, and that’s what war fighters do. They stand behind leaders and have their back,” Hegseth said. “Too often, Thomas Massie has acted like his job is to stand apart from the movement that President Trump leads, instead of strengthening it. When President Trump needs backup, Massie wants to debate process.”
The defense secretary’s political appearance, which represents an extraordinary break from tradition with the nation at war, comes as Trump looks to demonstrate his continued dominance of the Republican Party, even as he struggles to address heightened concerns about the economy and Iran war less than six months before the midterm elections.
