2026-05-18T19:41:05.087Z / 美国有线电视新闻网（CNN）
作者：杰夫·泽莱尼、戴维·赖特
19分钟前发布
发布于2026年5月18日美国东部时间下午3:41
乔恩·切里/盖蒂图片社
肯塔基州希伯伦——
当地时间周一，国防部长皮特·赫格斯瑟罕见地抛开战时公务投身竞选造势，呼吁肯塔基州的共和党人击败共和党籍众议员托马斯·马西，为总统唐纳德·特朗普输送承诺支持其施政纲领的“援军”。
在肯塔基州初选前一晚，赫格斯瑟与马西的共和党挑战者埃德·高尔莱茵一同出席集会，抨击这位国会议员。马西曾多次在预算、爱泼斯坦文件以及美国对以色列的支持等问题上与本届政府发生冲突，这早已激怒了特朗普总统。
“特朗普总统不需要更多在华盛顿试图哗众取宠的人，尤其是来自他所在政党的人，”他说道。“他需要的是帮助他赢下胜利的人，在最关键的时刻与他站在一起投票的人。”
他补充道：“当特朗普总统需要后盾时，马西却想就程序问题展开辩论。”
赫格斯瑟此次到访希伯伦，是近年来为数不多的国防部长抛开五角大楼公务，为一名政治候选人站台造势的案例。此次参选的挑战者正是伊朗战争的最激烈批评者之一。
“我必须 upfront 先说明，”赫格斯瑟在演讲开篇说道，“我是以个人身份前来的。”
从未有任何共和党人比马西更让特朗普震怒，这也让马西在周二即将到来的肯塔基州初选中处境岌岌可危。肯塔基州第4国会选区的这场竞选已是史上耗资最巨的初选之一，仅广告开支就已超过3000万美元，这也是马西迄今为止面临的最严峻政治考验。
高尔莱茵是一名农场主、前海军海豹突击队队员，由特朗普及其盟友招募参选。他在周一称赞了赫格斯瑟在五角大楼的任期，并指出在当前战争背景下，此次到访的意义非同寻常。
“想想我们如今身处的历史节点，而战争部长居然会来到这个不起眼的肯塔基小镇，今天和大家见面，”他对现场观众说道。“这值得我们所有人自豪。”
“他忙得不可开交，不是吗？手头要处理的事务堆积如山，”高尔莱茵继续说道。“我想大家都会同意，在特朗普总统身边，全世界第二忙的人就是皮特·赫格斯瑟。”
赫格斯瑟的此番亮相引发了法律倡导机构“民主向前”的反对，该机构于周一要求国防部 Inspector General 调查此次活动是否违反了有关政治活动的政策。
赫格斯瑟将高尔莱茵称为会与特朗普站在一起的“战士”，同时抨击马西反对本届政府部分施政议程的行为。
“埃德·高尔莱茵的履历不言自明，”他说道。“托马斯·马西的履历同样不言自明：太多哗众取宠，太少高瞻远瞩的投票。多年来他一直将刻意刁难等同于勇敢，这根本不是一回事。”
而马西本人则对批评者的行动不屑一顾。周一，就在赫格斯瑟与高尔莱茵举行集会的数小时前，他在社交媒体上发帖，展现出十足的信心。
“挑刺取乐！”马西写道，并附带了一段他弹奏班卓琴的视频。
On rare campaign trail visit, Hegseth implores Kentucky voters to oust Massie
2026-05-18T19:41:05.087Z / CNN
By Jeff Zeleny, David Wright
19 min ago
PUBLISHED May 18, 2026, 3:41 PM ET
Ed Gallrein, Republican congressional candidate for Kentucky, greets Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on stage during an America First Workers Special Event on May 18, 2026 in Hebron, Kentucky.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images
Hebron, Kentucky—
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a rare wartime visit to the campaign trail on Monday, imploring Republicans in Kentucky to defeat GOP Rep. Thomas Massie and send President Donald Trump “reinforcements” who pledge to support his agenda.
Rallying alongside Ed Gallrein, Massie’s Republican challenger, on the eve of Kentucky’s primary, Hegseth railed against the congressman, whose repeated clashes with the administration over budgets, the Epstein files, and US support for Israel have infuriated the president.
“President Trump does not need more people in Washington who are trying to make a point, especially from his own party,” he said. “He needs people trying to help him win, to vote with him when it matters most.”
He added: “When President Trump needs backup, Massie wants to debate process.”
Hegseth’s appearance in Hebron is among the only times in recent memory in which a secretary of defense took time from his Pentagon duties to campaign for a political candidate, who is running against one of the Iran war’s biggest critics.
“I have to say upfront,” Hegseth said at the opening of his remarks, “I’m here in my personal capacity.”
No Republican has infuriated Trump more than Massie, which has placed him in a precarious position heading into the Kentucky primary on Tuesday. The race in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District is already one of the most expensive primary contests ever, with more than $30 million spent on advertising alone, setting up the biggest political test Massie has ever faced.
Gallrein, a farmer and former Navy SEAL whom Trump and his allies recruited into the race, on Monday praised Hegseth’s tenure at the Pentagon and noted the significance of his visit amid a backdrop of war.
“Think about where we are in history right now, and you’re having the secretary of war coming here to little old Kentucky to see you here today,” he told the audience. “That’s something to be proud of.”
“He’s flat daggum busy, isn’t he, with everything he’s got going on,” Gallrein continued. “I think you all would agree, the second-busiest guy in the world right now to President Trump is Pete Hegseth.”
Hegseth’s appearance prompted pushback from legal advocacy firm Democracy Forward, which asked the Department of Defense’s inspector general on Monday to investigate whether it violated policies around political activity.
The secretary spoke of Gallrein as a “warrior” who would stand with Trump, as he assailed Massie’s opposition to parts of the administration’s agenda.
“Ed Gallrein’s record speaks for itself,” he said. “Thomas Massie’s record speaks for itself, too. Too much grandstanding. Too few great votes. Years of acting like being difficult is the same thing as being courageous. It’s not.”
Massie, meanwhile, has downplayed his critics’ efforts, and on Monday, hours before Hegseth’s appearance with Gallrein, he posted on social media, signaling confidence.
“Pickin and grinnin !” Massie wrote, accompanied by a video of him playing the banjo.
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