Thomas Massie Deserves to Lose': National Review Joins Trump in Calling for Rebel's Head Over Fringy, Toxic Ideology'

"We have a lot of time for quirky, go-it-alone libertarians, but prefer if they aren't conspiracy theorists or noxious critics of Israel. The proximate reason for Massie's political peril is that he's crossed President Trump one too many times, most notably on the release of the Epstein files. Members of Congress aren't appendages of the White House, and there's obviously nothing wrong with a congressman bucking a president of his own party. But Massie's independence is too often in service of dubious causes."

"After tsk-tsking him over his focus on the Epstein files and making himself the Inspector Clouseau of the January 6 pipe bomb case, alleging a deep state inside job, the editors turned THEIR attention to Massie's rhetoric about the world's only Jewish-majority state: Like most right-wing conspiracy theorists, he has no use for Israel. Massie is a genuine isolationist, who opposes even sanctioning other countries, but his opposition to Israel is bitterly irrational."

"He boycotted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress and claims that every member of Congress has an AIPAC minder. He opposes all aid to Israel, even for Iron Dome, and routinely votes against pro-Israel resolutions. A couple of years ago, he posted a meme saying that Congress has turned its back on American patriotism in favor of Zionism. It's telling, if not surprising, that a pro-Massie super PAC is running an ad in the race that portrays the billionaire investor and anti-Massie donor Paul Singer, who is Jewish, alongside a rainbow-colored Star of David."

The editorial board backed President Donald Trump’s call for Rep. Thomas Massie to lose. It said Massie’s political danger stems from crossing Trump too many times, especially over the release of the Epstein files. It argued that while members of Congress can buck a president, Massie’s independence often serves dubious causes. It criticized his focus on the Epstein files and his role in the January 6 pipe bomb case, including allegations of a deep state inside job. It also attacked his rhetoric about Israel, calling his opposition bitterly irrational and tied to right-wing conspiracy themes. It cited boycotts of Netanyahu’s address, claims about AIPAC influence, opposition to aid including Iron Dome, and votes against pro-Israel resolutions.

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