The Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund has released an advertisement criticizing Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie for his stance against the ongoing war in Iran, supporting his primary rival Ed Gallrein. The ad aired shortly after the House rejected a War Powers resolution aimed at halting the military action. Massie defends his position as consistent with his support for ending forever wars.
On March 5, 2026, the Republican Jewish Coalition Victory Fund launched a 30-second advertisement backing Ed Gallrein, the candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, in the upcoming May primary against Rep. Thomas Massie in Kentucky. The ad highlights Massie's opposition to the war in Iran, portraying him as aligning with Iran and radical leftists in Congress, while contrasting him with Gallrein, described as standing with Trump, the country, and the military.
The narrator in the ad states: “America is at war with a fanatical regime that seeks nuclear weapons. American hero Ed Gallrein stands with President Trump, our country and our military.” It further claims: “Thomas Massie, he stands with Iran and radical leftists in Congress, opposing Trump just like he did on the border and taxes.”
This advertisement emerged hours after the House rejected a War Powers resolution introduced by Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California, which sought to compel the president to stop the attack on Iran. Massie described the effort as a success because it "put everyone on record" regarding a military operation that "could last months."
Massie, a frequent critic of Trump, has accused the president of abandoning his “America First” doctrine through the Iran conflict and urged members of his party to limit the executive's war-making powers without congressional approval. In response to the ad, Massie said: “In 2024, I joined millions of Americans in supporting Donald Trump and JD Vance because they wanted to finally end the ‘forever wars.’ Now in my 2026 primary, I am being attacked with millions of dollars in negative ads because I still believe and am willing to fight for what we voted for two years ago.”
Massie has also collaborated with Khanna on other issues, including the release of the Epstein files. He frames his primary challenge as a contest over whether the "Global Military Industrial Complex and Israel’s government controls the United States," and has used his opposition to the war to raise funds. The ad represents an early use of the Iran war in campaign messaging, despite polls indicating the operation's unpopularity among voters.
