Thomas Massie Accused Israel Lobby Of Being Behind His Ouster — They Just Congratulated His Pro-Israel Opponent

Peloni:  Ed Gallrein raised somewhere around $3 million for his campaign, with an additional $32-$35 million from superpacs.  Yet, the roughly $7 million which came from Jewish groups are all that is noted by either the press or Gallrein’s opponent Massie as the basis of his fall from power.  The reality is that if the world didn’t have the collection of antisemitic libels which mask the reality of the woes of the world as being due to Jews, perhaps some of the long ignored problems might have been solved over the centuries in which these libels have instead been used to distract and focus the limited attention of antisemitic populations.

Notably, such long practiced tactics continue to be employed by men such as Massie who have earned the public’s scorn as he hid behind claims that Jews were out to get him, when the simple reality is that Massie, for all of his claims to be centered on the Constitution, lacked the support which his opponent had, and that opponent was not the Jews, not PM Netanyahu and not Israel, but Pres. Trump.  Instead of framing his defeat, and his campaign, around this reality, he moved to join the political bottom feeders circling about Tucker Carlson’s antisemitic tutorials, and thereby abandoned any dignity which he might have had as his defeat became imminently obvious.  I have noted in the past that war doesn’t change the character of men so much as it reveals it, but this is true in politics as well, and was most certainly true of Rep. Thomas Massie whose shameful protestation before the alter of antisemitism demonstrates just how truly hollow his adherence to the principles of the American Constitution really was, as antisemitism is not a Constitutional value, but is instead based around the principles of arbitrary rule and the application of selective justice.  Thomas Massie’s betrayal of that which he claimed to espouse as his greatest objective is in fact the greater legacy which he leaves in the wake of his landslide defeat.

Nicole Silverio | Capitol Hill Reporter |  Daily Caller | May 20, 2026

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) congratulated Republican Kentucky congressional candidate Ed Gallrein Tuesday after the pro-Israel lobby helped him defeat incumbent Thomas Massie.

AIPAC and other pro-Israel lobbying groups spent over $9 million in mostly independent expenditures to oust Massie, who has been critical of Israel and opposed foreign aid. The lobbying group expressed their determination to place pro-Israel candidates into positions of power.

“Congratulations to US Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein for defeating anti-Israel incumbent Thomas Massie!” AIPAC wrote on X. “Pro-Israel Americans are proud to back candidates who support a strong alliance and help defeat those who work to undermine it. Being pro-Israel is good policy and good politics!” (RELATED: Ed Gallrein Has Boomers To Thank For Defeating Thomas Massie)

In a separate statement, AIPAC stated they were “proud” to help pro-Israel candidates win seats against so-called “detractors” like Massie and former Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

“Ed Gallrein’s victory in KY and Clay Fuller’s win in GA ensures two outspoken pro-Israel voices are positioned to fill seats previously held by outspoken detractors, Thomas Massie and Marjorie Taylor Greene. Our community was proud to help pro-Israel candidates win these races,” AIPAC said.

Gallrein defeated Massie in a 54.8% to 45.2% vote, with a total of 104,071 votes being casted, according to Ballotpedia. Voters over the age of 65 overwhelmingly supported Gallrein, while most young voters supported Massie.

Massie previously told Daily Caller News Foundation co-founder Tucker Carlson that his primary race was so close because the Israeli lobby poured in millions to back his opponent. During his concession speech, he joked about trying to reach Gallrein in Tel Aviv.

Along with AIPAC, pro-Israel GOP donors donated millions to MAGA Kentucky, a pro-Trump super PAC, that spent nearly $7 million in independent expenditures to oust Massie. The super PAC received $750,000 from the Preserve America PAC, which is tied to billionaire megadonor Miriam Adelson, and a $1 million donation from billionaire Paul Singer.

AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, spent $4.15 million on independent expenditures to support Gallrein, according to Decision Desk Headquarters. The Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund donated $3.87 million in independent expenditures to oust Massie.

Massie repeatedly criticized Israel, wars and foreign aid during his time in Congress. He argued that President Donald Trump’s strikes on Iran in June 2025 were unconstitutional, and later stated on May 4 that Israel “forced our hand and dragged us” into the Iran war that began on Feb. 28.

Trump also opposed Massie for his multiple votes against the One Big, Beautiful Bill and his leading role in pushing for the release of the files surrounding Jeffrey Epstein files.

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