Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Monday at a campaign event boosting the President Donald Trump-backed challenger to Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., ahead of Kentucky\u2019s primary elections Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m proud here to stand with Ed Gallrein, because he led warriors in combat,\u201d Hegseth said at an event in Hebron, Kentucky. \u201cHe led at the very highest levels of special operations. He served with distinction as a Navy SEAL, rose into leadership within the elite ranks of SEAL Team Six, one of the most demanding combat organizations on planet Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event was hosted by the nonprofit organization America First Works, a pro-Trump group. Gallrein, who entered the race at Trump\u2019s urging, spoke shortly before Hegseth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gallrein said service members \u201cdeserve a commander in chief who has their back and leaders they can trust. They have them in Donald Trump, and they have them in Pete Hegseth, don\u2019t they?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The New York Times was first to report that Hegseth would attend the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s highly unusual for the defense secretary to participate in a political event. Massie, a vocal Trump critic who led the campaign to release government records on Jeffrey Epstein, was first elected to Congress in 2012. Massie has also opposed Trump and Hegseth\u2019s handling of the Iran war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hegseth nodded to the atypical nature of his appearance, saying, \u201cI have to say up front, for the lawyers, that I\u2019m here in my personal capacity as a private citizen, a fellow American, and a fellow combat veteran.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Guidelines for Defense Department employees and service members say they should be \u201cmindful of the various limitations that exist when it comes to participation in political activity, particularly during an election year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the event, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth would appear only \u201cin his personal capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo taxpayer dollars will be used to facilitate his visit,\u201d Parnell said in a statement. \u201cHis participation has been thoroughly vetted and cleared by lawyers, including the Department of War Office of General Counsel, and does not violate the Hatch Act or any other applicable federal statute.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview Monday on Fox News, Gallrein accused Massie of betraying conservative values by blocking Trump\u2019s agenda and aligning himself with \u201cradical Democrats.\u201d Gallrein also denounced Massie for being a \u201cNever Trumper\u201d who rejoined the Republican Party only after Trump\u2019s re-election loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Massie\u2019s campaign didn\u2019t respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a video posted Monday afternoon to Truth Social, Trump focused more on his animosity toward Massie than his support of Gallrein, saying he hoped Kentucky voters would put Massie \u201cout of business\u201d on Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in a fight against the worst congressman in the history of our country. His name is Thomas Massie, he\u2019s from Kentucky,\u201d Trump said from the Oval Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the video, Trump called Gallrein \u201ca great guy\u201d and \u201ca great patriot,\u201d but added, \u201cBut forget that. Massie is the worst congressman in the history of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n