Rep. Thomas Massie is facing a primary he cannot count on Elon Musk to help him win. Despite the billionaire's pledge of support last year, Musk has remained conspicuously absent from the Kentucky Republican's reelection fight as the May 19 primary approaches in three weeks.
Massie's challenger is Ed Gallrein, a Navy SEAL veteran who was specifically recruited by President Trump's political organization. The president has made Massie his target for the cycle, turning the primary into a barometer for Trump's power over Republican voters in his home state.
The congressman did not mask his frustration. "I think [Musk] found out it's easier to land rockets backwards and to get cars to drive themselves than it is to fix this place," Massie told Axios at the Capitol. He said he no longer expects Musk's financial backing.
An early April survey by Quantus Insights shows Massie leading with 46.8% support among likely primary voters, compared to Gallrein's 37.7%, with 14% undecided. The margin is striking for a lawmaker accustomed to dominating reelection races.
Massie suggested that high-profile business figures face a difficult calculation when entering politics. "It's hard for donors in business to get involved in politics if they're not completely just in the tank for Trump without putting their businesses in jeopardy," he said, though he declined to name specific donors he was referring to.
He was careful not to alienate Musk. "I have no animosity or hard feelings towards him," Massie said.
The silence from Musk stands in contrast to his aggressive spending elsewhere in Republican politics. He contributed substantially to pro-House and Senate GOP super PACs late last year and recently cut a $10 million check for Nate Morris, an outsider candidate running to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
Massie's predicament underscores the precarious nature of relying on wealthy allies in politics, especially when those allies may face pressure to align completely with the sitting president or risk damage to their business interests.
Author James Rodriguez: "Musk's absence speaks louder than any check he could write, and it's a reminder that even billionaires play it safe when the political stakes get personal."
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