US House Speaker Comments on Massie Primary Defeat in Kentucky

(MENAFN) US House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday that he was not surprised by the defeat of Representative Thomas Massie in the Republican primary in Kentucky, according to reports.

Speaking to journalists on Capitol Hill, Johnson said he spoke with US President Donald Trump late Tuesday after election results became clear, and emphasized what he described as the president’s extraordinary influence in electoral politics.

“I talked with the president late last night after all the dust was settling over all the elections, and we talked about how his endorsement is the most powerful in the history of politics,” Johnson said. “Anywhere in the world, I guess this is a phenomenon,” according to reports.

Incumbent Republican lawmaker Thomas Massie, known for occasionally breaking with party leadership and Trump, lost the primary to Trump-backed candidate Ed Gallrein. Election results cited by The Associated Press showed Gallrein winning 54.9% of the vote, while Massie received 45.1%.

Johnson noted that House Republican leadership stayed out of the race due to Massie’s status as an incumbent, but acknowledged that Trump’s opposition was a significant factor in the outcome, according to reports.

MENAFN21052026000045017640ID1111148535