Hegseth wades into Massie race in Kentucky to excoriate Trump critic

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is railing against one of President Donald Trump’s chief Republican critics in Congress on the eve of a high-profile primary election.

Hegseth traveled to Kentucky on Monday to deliver his remarks, which were designed to undermine Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie re-election bid.

Hegseth insisted he was speaking in his “personal capacity ... as a private citizen” — and not as a member of Trump’s Cabinet.

And yet Hegseth evoked Trump over and over as he praised Massie’s rival, former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein.

The defense secretary’s unusual political appearance comes as Trump looks to demonstrate his continued dominance of the Republican Party, even as he struggles to address voter concerns about the economy and the war in Iran.