Ben Shapiro Accuses Thomas Massie of Trying to Be Tucker Carlson 2.0 With Not Particularly Subtle Antisemitism' After Political Defeat

Massie lost a primary battle and then delivered a concession speech that was cited as evidence of a strategy to profit from conspiratorial anti-Israel messaging. Shapiro claimed Massie anticipated trouble once Trump targeted him and therefore aimed to become a podcaster, seeking recognition from both right-leaning and left-leaning audiences. Shapiro described Massie’s remarks as ugly and not subtle antisemitism, linking them to earlier complaints about Israel drawing the U.S. into the Iran war. Shapiro argued that focusing on Israel was irrational for a Kentucky congressman trying to win locally, especially given the district’s very small Jewish population.

"The minute that Trump came out and went after Massie, Massie knew he was in trouble. And so he figured you know what, I want to be a podcaster, I want to be like Joe Kent or Tucker Carlson. I want the strange new respect. I want the podcast woke right, and I also want the strange new respect of the left,' Shapiro said. And so I'm going to go all the way, I'm going to throw out conspiracy theories, go full-scale conspiratorial anti-Israel.' So that was Massie's plan, was that he knew he was toast anyway, so the best way to make money on the other side is to do that sort of thing."

"Shapiro said Massie's concession speech on Tuesday night was pretty good evidence to back up that theory. Massie mocked Trump's Roman Empire ballroom and quipped that it was hard for him to reach the victorious Ed Gallrein in Tel Aviv. Shapiro said it was ugly stuff and not particularly subtle antisemitism from the lawmaker. But he said it was unsurprising, based on Massie's complaints about how Israel dragged the U.S. into the Iran war and his other comments of late."

"Carlson has been bashing Israel a lot as well recently, especially since the start of the Iran war. The former cable news star said the war is being waged strictly on behalf of Israel, which he said is in charge of Trump. Shapiro said Massie's focus on Israel made no sense for a congressman who was actually trying to win in Kentucky. What was he thinking? Shapiro asked. Why in the world in a district that has fewer than 500 Jews would you decide that it was really, really important to run on the' Zionist o"

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