LEXINGTON, Ky. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stepped into a contentious Kentucky congressional race Monday, using his platform to attack one of President Donald Trump’s most vocal Republican critics in Congress, according to reporting from WUKY 91.3 FM. The move marks an unusual foray into d omestic politics for the nation’s top defense official, who set aside federal matters to weigh in on a Republican primary contest that observers say will signal the strength of Trump’s influence over the GOP during his second term. Hegseth’s involvement underscores how the former Trump critic-turned-ally has become a key surrogate for the president’s political agenda. His decision to campaign in Kentucky reflects the administration’s determination to purge the Republican Party of Trump opponents, even those serving in Congress. The Kentucky race has emerged as a test of whether Trump’s endorsements and direct intervention can reshape congressional delegations to his liking. Primary elections in 2026 will show whether Trump loyalists can unseat sitting Republicans who have broken with the president on major votes or policy positions. Hegseth’s appearance in the state came as the Pentagon faces ongoing tensions with Iran, raising questions about the timing of a high-ranking defense official’s participation in domestic campaign activities. The involvement of Cabinet-level officials in primary races is relatively uncommon, though not unprecedented. It signals the degree to which Trump has centralized political power within his administration and demonstrates his willingness to use the machinery of government to advance his electoral goals. This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from WUKY 91.3 FM. The original source is available at https://www.wuky.org/wuky-news/2026-05-18/defense-secretary-steps-into-key-kentucky-election-to-attack-trump-critic. The post Defense Secretary enters Kentucky race to challenge Trump foe appeared first on The Lexington Times. ...read more read less