Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., this week warned the Republican Party of the consequences of "shrinking the tent" in electoral politics after he lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger.

"I think it’s dangerous when you shrink the tent," Massie told MS Now. "I mean, I give him a lot of credit for growing the tent... But one by one, those people are being forced out of the party."

Massie decidedly lost his primary to the Trump-backed Ed Gallrein on Tuesday evening, in what became the most expensive House primary in history.

The Kentucky Republican had long been a darling of the party's libertarian wing, and earned the president's ire over his opposition to the One Big, Beautiful Bill, as well as his criticism of the Iran war, the Israel lobby, and his repeated cross-party votes on budgetary matters.

Trump backed a primary challenger to Massie in 2020, but later endorsed him in 2022. Ultimately, the president again grew tired of his consistent willingness to vote against Republican bills in the narrowly divided House.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent for Just the News. Follow him on X.