Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) defended Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) ahead of his high-profile Republican primary race, calling him a “principled constitutionalist” while dismissing concerns that her support for him could trigger a Trump-backed challenge against her in 2028.
Massie faces retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein, a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, in Tuesday’s Republican primary for Kentucky’s fourth congressional district. The contest has become the most expensive House primary race in U.S. history, with more than $32 million spent.
Speaking on a prominent political program Monday, Boebert said she supports Trump’s America First agenda but argued Republicans should still be willing to disagree on matters of principle. “I can speak personally for my friend Thomas Massie,” she stated, referring to internal GOP negotiations over Trump-backed legislation. “I don’t always vote with Thomas Massie, but I understand that he is a principled constitutionalist, and it would be a sad day for out-of-state billionaires to come and buy his seat from his constituents.”
When asked whether Republican infighting could undermine Trump’s agenda, Boebert pushed back: “There are times where we have to stick to our principles and the promises that we have made to our voters, and the oath that we swore to the Constitution. You can be for President Trump, for his agenda, for the Constitution, and still have friends like Thomas Massie, like I do.”
President Trump has criticized Massie and endorsed Gallrein, urging Kentucky Republicans to defeat the 10-term incumbent. Trump also hinted Saturday that Boebert could face political consequences for campaigning with Massie, calling her “weak minded” in a private online post and suggesting he might support a primary challenger against her.
Boebert, however, insisted she was unconcerned about her own political future. “I’m not one of those politicians who’s going to talk about 2028,” she said. “Any politician who’s going to talk to you about the next election shouldn’t be there at all.”
The Colorado representative added that her support for Massie was rooted in loyalty and conviction, not political calculation. “I’ve had plenty of friends who have whispered their support of me behind the scenes and had no action to follow it up,” she said. “I would never want to be accused of being a friend like that. My words have actions that follow.”
Boebert also criticized Gallrein’s campaign style and the outside money flooding the race. “It’s the fact that there are just a limited number—three billionaires—who are coming in, out-of-state billionaires with their agenda,” she said. “They are trying to buy all of these votes now on the campaign trail.”
She contrasted that with Massie’s record of fiscal conservatism, citing his opposition to early COVID-19 spending packages. “He was the lone member of Congress who forced that vote and said, ‘We must show up and show the voters how we will vote on $2 trillion of their money,’” Boebert stated.
