Barr Campaign Manager Fired Over Anti-Trump Posts

Kentucky Senate candidate Andy Barr terminates campaign manager Blake Gober after Breitbart News report on his history of Trump criticism.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:24pm

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The campaign manager for Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Andy Barr has been fired after a Breitbart News investigation uncovered years of anti-Trump social media posts from the staffer, Blake Gober. Barr's campaign cited the Breitbart report as the reason for Gober's termination, raising questions about Barr's vetting process and stance on former President Trump.

Why it matters

The firing highlights the ongoing tensions within the Republican Party between Trump loyalists and those more critical of the former president. Barr's decision to part ways with Gober over the revelations could impact his standing with pro-Trump voters in the Kentucky Senate race.

The details

According to the Breitbart report, Gober had a long history of criticizing Trump on social media, dating back to before the 2016 election. The campaign manager's anti-Trump rhetoric continued up until just before the 2024 election, when he finally voted for Trump. Barr's campaign cited the Breitbart story as the reason for Gober's termination last week.

  • Gober was hired as Barr's campaign manager in January 2026.
  • Breitbart News published its report on Gober's anti-Trump social media posts in early April 2026.
  • Barr's campaign announced Gober's termination last week, shortly after the Breitbart story.

The players

Andy Barr

A Republican U.S. Representative from Kentucky who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell.

Blake Gober

The former campaign manager for Andy Barr's Senate campaign, who was fired after a Breitbart News report revealed his history of anti-Trump social media posts.

Mitch McConnell

The outgoing U.S. Senator from Kentucky whose seat Barr and other candidates are running to replace.

Daniel Cameron

A former Kentucky Attorney General who has also been close with Mitch McConnell.

Nate Morris

A Kentucky businessman who has run against the McConnell political machine in the state.

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What they’re saying

“We parted ways with Blake last week.”

— Alex Bellizzi, Barr campaign spokesman

“Criticism of Gober from many on the right came after a report from Breitbart, a conservative outlet that has boosted Morris, about several posts on X, formerly Twitter, criticizing Trump.”

— Austin Horn, Author

What’s next

The Barr campaign has not yet responded to several questions raised in the initial Breitbart News report, including whether Barr was aware of Gober's anti-Trump history when he hired him, and if there are other staff members on the campaign with similar views.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing divisions within the Republican Party, as candidates must navigate the delicate balance between appealing to Trump's base and distancing themselves from controversial rhetoric. Barr's handling of the Gober situation could impact his support from both pro-Trump and anti-Trump factions of the GOP in the Kentucky Senate race.