Representative Thomas Massie had his microphone physically removed while addressing Republicans at the Oldham County Lincoln Day Dinner, highlighting growing tensions within the Kentucky GOP as Trump backs his primary challenger.

Microphone Incident at Republican Dinner

State House Speaker David Osborne grabbed the microphone from Massie’s hands Friday night as the congressman declared his independence from party leadership. Massie was telling the audience he works for constituents, not the Speaker of the House, when Osborne ended his remarks. Someone in the crowd shouted support for the intervention, calling it a snake pit moment.

Oldham County Republican Party Chair Blaine Anderson defended the action, stating both Massie and his primary opponent Ed Gallrein received explicit five-minute speaking limits. Anderson claimed Osborne removed the microphone only after giving Massie an extra courtesy minute, insisting the decision had nothing to do with the congressman’s message content.

Trump Escalates Primary Battle

President Trump intensified his criticism of Massie earlier that day at the National Prayer Breakfast, calling him a moron and comparing him to Rand Paul. Trump expressed frustration with Massie’s consistent opposition votes, particularly on releasing Epstein files and challenging the president’s legislative agenda. The president has endorsed Gallrein in the Republican primary, citing Massie’s repeated breaks with party unity.

Massie Stands Ground Despite Party Pressure

Following the microphone incident, Massie joined supporters at a local restaurant, demonstrating his commitment to direct constituent engagement. He acknowledged Anderson as a good person while suggesting establishment Republicans in Oldham County suffer from what he termed Massie Derangement Syndrome. The congressman continues advocating for full Epstein file releases and opposing increased Iran involvement despite party leadership pressure.