Major Controversies Surrounding Thomas Massie: A Detailed Timeline

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Thomas Massie

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Thomas Massie.

Thomas Massie is an American politician and engineer serving as the U.S. Representative for Kentucky's 4th congressional district since 2012. A Republican, his district encompasses much of northeastern Kentucky, notably the Cincinnati area's Kentucky side and Louisville's eastern suburbs. He is known for his conservative views and has often been a vocal critic of government spending and intervention.

May 2013: Voted Against Stolen Valor Act

In May 2013, Thomas Massie voted against the Stolen Valor Act of 2013, which passed 390–3.

December 2013: Opposed Undetectable Firearms Act

In December 2013, Thomas Massie was the only congressman to vote against the Undetectable Firearms Act.

2013: Massie jokes about cold weather and climate change

In 2013, Massie joked that cold weather undermined the argument for climate change, tweeting about the cancellation of a Science Committee Hearing on Global Warming due to snow.

2013: Called Roe v. Wade a "judicial travesty"

In 2013, Massie released a statement calling Roe v. Wade "one of the greatest judicial travesties of our time" and asserted his belief that life begins at conception.

March 2014: Voted Against Bill Naming Israel Strategic Partner

In March 2014, Thomas Massie voted against a bill to name Israel an American strategic partner, citing his opposition to subsidizing foreign green energy companies.

May 2014: Objected to Voice Vote for Jack Nicklaus Medal

In May 2014, Thomas Massie objected to a voice vote to award golf star Jack Nicklaus a gold medal recognizing his "service to the nation", and demanded a roll call vote.

June 2014: Named 'Mr. No' by Politico

By mid-June 2014, Thomas Massie had voted "no" at least 324 times in the 113th Congress, leading Politico to name him "Mr. No".

2015: Voted Present on Iran Nuclear Agreement

In 2015, Thomas Massie was the sole member of the House to vote "present" on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, also known as the Iran nuclear agreement, citing Constitutional concerns.

November 2016: Voted Against Iran Sanctions Extension

In November 2016, Thomas Massie was the only member of the House to vote against an extension of U.S. sanctions against Iran.

February 2017: Introduced Bill to Abolish Department of Education

In February 2017, Thomas Massie introduced a one-page bill that would abolish the United States Department of Education, and cosponsored a bill that would abolish the Environmental Protection Agency.

April 2017: Expressed Skepticism on Syrian Attack

In April 2017, Thomas Massie expressed skepticism over the role of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in the 2017 Khan Shaykhun chemical attack.

May 2017: Sole Vote Against North Korea Sanctions

In May 2017, Thomas Massie was the sole House member to vote against sanctions on North Korea.

July 2017: Opposed Russia, Iran, and North Korea Sanctions

In July 2017, Thomas Massie joined Representatives Amash and John Duncan Jr., and Senators Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders in opposing a bill to impose new economic sanctions against Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

2017: Criticized Republican efforts to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act

In 2017, Thomas Massie voiced criticism of the Republican Party's attempts to repeal sections of the Affordable Care Act, arguing that their proposals did not fully deliver on the promise to repeal Obamacare.

2018: Massie criticizes Emmanuel Macron's speech to Congress

In 2018, after French President Emmanuel Macron's address to Congress mentioning his desire for the U.S. to rejoin the Paris Climate Accords, Massie labeled Macron as "a socialist militarist globalist science-alarmist."

March 26, 2019: Voted to Override Trump's Veto

On March 26, 2019, Thomas Massie was one of 14 Republicans to vote with all House Democrats to override Trump's veto of a measure unwinding Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.

April 10, 2019: Called Kerry's Degree "Pseudoscience"

On April 10, 2019, during John Kerry's testimony, Thomas Massie called Kerry's political science degree from Yale University a "pseudoscience degree" and his stance on climate change "pseudoscience."

July 2019: Voted Against Resolution Opposing Boycott of Israel

In July 2019, Thomas Massie was the only Republican among 17 members of Congress to vote against a House resolution opposing efforts to boycott Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.

August 2019: Said James Comey should be put in prison instead of Maria Butina

In August 2019, Massie stated that former FBI Director James Comey should be imprisoned instead of Maria Butina.

October 2019: Criticized Maria Butina's jail sentence

In October 2019, Massie criticized the jail sentence given to Maria Butina, a Russian citizen who pleaded guilty to conspiring to act as a foreign agent in the United States, describing it as motivated by Russophobia.

November 2019: Massie votes against the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act

In November 2019, Massie was the sole member of Congress to vote against the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, citing that intervening in other nations' internal affairs is not the role of the United States.

November 2019: Sole 'No' Vote on Hong Kong Human Rights Act

In November 2019, Thomas Massie was the sole "no" vote in Congress on the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, calling it an "escalation" with China.

December 2019: Massie votes against the UIGHUR Act

In December 2019, Massie was the sole member of Congress to vote against the UIGHUR Act, which condemned the treatment of Chinese Uyghurs, citing that intervening in other nations' internal affairs is not the role of the United States.

2019: Massie questions concerns over rising carbon dioxide levels

During a 2019 House Oversight Committee hearing on the impact of climate change, Massie suggested that concerns about rising carbon dioxide levels were exaggerated.

February 26, 2020: Voted against making lynching a federal hate crime

On February 26, 2020, Thomas Massie voted against making lynching a federal hate crime.

March 27, 2020: Massie forces House members to return to Washington

On March 27, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Massie compelled House members to return to Washington by threatening a quorum call, potentially endangering them amid the pandemic. This action was in response to a $2.2 trillion aid package.

July 2020: Massie argues against mask mandates and compulsory vaccinations

In July 2020, Massie opposed face mask mandates and compulsory vaccinations, leading to allegations of antisemitism after he made a comparison to the Holocaust.

September 2020: Commented on Kyle Rittenhouse case

In September 2020, Massie remarked that Kyle Rittenhouse, who was charged with first-degree intentional homicide after a shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, had demonstrated "incredible restraint."

2020: Massie votes against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

In 2020, Massie was one of only three House members to vote against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

January 6, 2021: Did not support colleagues' efforts to challenge 2020 election results

On January 6, 2021, Massie was among seven Republicans who did not support efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, signing a letter that acknowledged election fraud allegations but asserted Congress lacked the authority to influence the election's outcome.

June 2021: Voted against resolution to give Congressional Gold Medal to police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6

In June 2021, Massie was one of 21 House Republicans who voted against a resolution to award the Congressional Gold Medal to police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on January 6. Also in June 2021, he was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against legislation to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday, expressing support for celebrating the abolition of slavery but opposing the name 'Independence Day'.

June 27, 2021: Sued Nancy Pelosi over mask fines

On June 27, 2021, Massie announced that he, along with Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ralph Norman, were suing Speaker Nancy Pelosi after being fined for not wearing masks on the House floor.

July 2021: Voted Against ALLIES Act

In July 2021, Thomas Massie voted against the bipartisan ALLIES Act, which would increase special immigrant visas for Afghan allies of the U.S. military.

September 2021: Only Republican to Oppose Iron Dome Funding

In September 2021, Thomas Massie was the only Republican to vote against $1 billion of funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system.

December 4, 2021: Drew criticism for posting family Christmas photo with guns

On December 4, 2021, Massie faced criticism after posting a family Christmas photo featuring an assortment of guns on his Twitter account, shortly after the Oxford High School shooting.

December 2021: Sole Vote Against Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

In December 2021, Thomas Massie was the sole vote against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act.

2021: Massie votes against measure condemning the Myanmar coup d'état

In 2021, Massie was one of 14 House Republicans to vote against a measure condemning the Myanmar coup d'état.

January 30, 2022: Massie faces criticism for Twitter attack on Anthony Fauci

On January 30, 2022, Massie was criticized for a Twitter attack on Anthony Fauci, which included a quote from neo-Nazi Kevin Alfred Strom, mistakenly attributed to Voltaire.

March 2022: Massie opposes resolution supporting Ukraine's sovereignty

In March 2022, Massie was one of three members to oppose a resolution supporting Ukraine's sovereignty after it was invaded by Russia, and he later amplified Russian claims about Ukraine developing biological weapons.

May 2022: Only House Member to Vote Against Anti-Semitism Resolution

In May 2022, Thomas Massie was the only member of the House of Representatives to vote against a non-binding resolution denouncing antisemitism and opposition to Israel.

February 2023: Voted against resolution mourning those killed in Turkey-Syria earthquakes

In February 2023, Thomas Massie, along with Marjorie Taylor Greene, voted against a nonpartisan resolution mourning the victims of the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes. The resolution also condemned Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad for allegedly exploiting the disaster.

October 2023: Massie is the only Republican to vote against House resolution guaranteeing U.S. support for Israel

In October 2023, Massie was the only Republican to vote against a House resolution guaranteeing U.S. support for Israel's military actions in Gaza.

November 2023: Massie opposes resolution affirming Israel's right to exist

In November 2023, Massie was the only member of Congress to oppose a resolution affirming Israel's right to exist and equating anti-Zionism to antisemitism.

December 2023: Massie tweets meme contrasting Zionism with American patriotism

In December 2023, Massie tweeted a meme that appeared to contrast Zionism with American patriotism, leading to further controversy.

March 2024: Massie votes against resolution condemning kidnapping of Ukrainian children

In March 2024, Massie voted against House Resolution 149, condemning "the wrongful and illegal kidnapping of children from Ukraine" by Russia, being one of nine Republicans to do so.

May 2024: AIPAC launches ad campaign targeting Massie

In May 2024, AIPAC and allied groups initiated a $300,000 ad campaign targeting Massie for what they considered "anti-Israel views," without formally endorsing any primary challenger.

June 2024: Massie claims each Republican member of Congress has an "AIPAC person"

In a June 2024 interview, Massie asserted that every Republican member of Congress, excluding himself, has an "AIPAC person" directing their votes.

July 2024: Massie boycotts Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress

In July 2024, Massie boycotted Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress, labeling it as "political theater" and becoming the only Republican to do so. He advocated for ending all U.S. military aid to Israel due to civilian casualties in Gaza.

March 26, 2025: Supreme Court disagrees with Massie on regulating privately made firearms

On March 26, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a 7-2 opinion authored by Justice Gorsuch, disagreed with Massie's view that the federal government lacks the authority to prevent individuals from making their own firearms.