WILLIAMSTOWN, KY. — U.S. Representative Thomas Massie defended his voting record and criticized his Trump-backed Republican primary opponent during the Grant County Republican Party's Lincoln-Reagan Day dinner in Williamstown, Ky., last week. Massie, first elected to Congress in 2012, used the speech to make his case to voters in a district where President Donald Trump won more than 80% of the vote in Grant County in the 2024 presidential election.

A local state lawmaker introduced Massie as the archetype of conservatism at the event. Eighteen minutes into his remarks, Massie shifted to discussing Trump and addressed the Republican primary race in Kentucky's 4th District, where Trump is backing former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein.

"I vote with the GOP, regardless of what you see on TV, 91% of the time. But in the 9% of the time, if they're covering up for pedophiles, bankrupting the country or starting another war, I don't vote that way," Massie said. He did not specify what he was referring to with the phrase "covering up for pedophiles."

Massie, who is known for fiscally conservative and libertarian leanings, has expressed concern about the federal deficit and opposition to wars of choice. "I read the bills. I try to make the decision based on what is best. And sometimes it means voting no," he said.

"I'm running against a guy whose main thing is he will promise you he will go along to get along. I don't think we need a rubber stamp," Massie said.

Gallrein, who joined Trump onstage at an event in the 4th District last month, canceled his planned speech at the dinner at the last minute. A spokesperson for Gallrein said he had two funerals to attend. Alexandra Wilkes, a spokesperson for Gallrein's campaign, said in a separate statement: "Captain Gallrein is honored that President Trump has been so supportive of his campaign to defeat every liberal's favorite Republican, Thomas Massie."