Trump touts Iran ‘excursion,’ hits GOP’s Massie in first rally since launching strikes

President Trump used his first campaign-style rally since the U.S. launched strikes against Tehran to knock Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in his own district and laud what he called an “excursion” in Iran.

“We did an excursion. You know what an excursion is? We had to take a little trip to get rid of some evil, very evil people,” the president told the crowd.

“And by the way do we have a great military? The best. Better than any military in the world by far. I didn’t know that we’re going to have to be showing it off so much to be honest,” he said.

Trump also went after Massie, who has a long history of defying the president and co-sponsored a war powers resolution in the House to limit U.S. military operations in Iran absent congressional approval.

“He is the worst person. His name is. What the hell? How the hell did he ever end up in Kentucky? His name is Thomas Massie,” Trump said, eliciting boos from the crowd of supporters in Hebron, Ky.

Trump went on to call Massie, who is one of the loudest Trump critics within the GOP, “a disaster for our party.”  

Massie is facing a primary challenge from Republican Ed Gallrein, who has been endorsed by Trump and was present for his rally on Wednesday.

“Ed Gallrein has my complete and total endorsement. He’s a true American hero and he’s a great patriot,” he continued. “He’s doing it because he saw what [Massie] was doing to our country.”

One of the more eventful moments in the rally took place when a woman standing behind Trump on stage collapsed, resulting in Trump pausing the rally as first responders rushed to assist the woman.

Among those helping the woman was Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz.

“It’s Dr. Oz, can you believe it?” the president said as Oz helped escort the woman off of the stage.

Prior to his rally in Hebron, Trump made a stop at the pharmaceutical and biotech company Thermo Fisher Scientific in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he touted his administration’s efforts to bring down prescription drug costs.

The visit was Trump’s latest effort to pitch his affordability message ahead of November’s midterm elections.

However, the U.S. operation in Iran is threatening to drive up energy prices, which could backfire on Republicans running up and down the ballot in November.

Trump sought to assuage those fears while speaking to reporters in Cincinnati.

“The market is holding up well. I think it will be hit a little bit, but we were hit a little less than I thought. Prices are coming down very substantially. Oil will be coming down. That’s just a matter of war. It happens, you can almost predict it,” the president said.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin knocked Trump in a statement during his visit, describing his affordability pitch as desperate.

“As good-paying jobs become harder to find, gas and health care prices soar, and families dip into savings just to cover their bills, it’s clear Trump has abandoned working families in pursuit of his own ego,” Martin said.

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