House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday indicated that he was unsurprised by Rep. Thomas Massie's, R-Ky, primary loss on Tuesday evening.

Massie was defeated by the Trump-backed Ed Gallrein in what became the most expensive House primary in history on Tuesday evening. Massie attracted Trump's ire for several reasons, including his opposition to major spending bills, criticism of the Iran war, and his efforts to force the release of the Epstein files. Johnson, for his part, pointed to Trump's influence in tipping the scales in Gallrein's favor.

"But the president certainly made his opinion known, and I’m not surprised by the results there," he told reporters. "The president knows what’s at stake in this fall’s elections, and he and I need conservative patriots here, ready to help us continue saving America, and that’s why we’re working hand in hand to defend and grow this House Republican majority."

Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House and the Democrats are favored to win the lower chamber in November. Redistricting changes have made the contest more competitive, but Johnson indicated that he needed lawmakers who would be team players.

"You have to give up on some of your personal preferences sometimes, because you’re in a deliberative body, and you have 434 colleagues... so that’s the message. It’s nothing more than that," he went on.

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