U.S. Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) has found himself at the center of a political firestorm after proposing a ban on dual citizenship for lawmakers, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from President Donald Trump and highlighted Massie’s ongoing tensions with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The libertarian-leaning Kentucky congressman, known for his independent streak, has taken no financial contributions from AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, which some of his supporters claim has made him a target for political retaliation.
Massie’s proposal, first publicized in August 2024 via a post on X, calls for members of Congress who hold dual citizenship to renounce citizenship in all other countries. At a minimum, he argued, they should disclose such statuses and abstain from votes that specifically benefit those nations. “Dual citizens elected to United States Congress should renounce citizenship in all other countries,” Massie wrote, igniting a debate about loyalty and influence in American politics. While the proposal has not yet been formally introduced as legislation, it has gained traction among some conservative and populist circles, who see it as a way to ensure lawmakers prioritize U.S. interests.
The controversy escalated on March 10, 2025, when Trump announced on Truth Social that he would “lead the charge” to primary Massie, accusing the congressman of being an “automatic ‘NO’ vote on just about everything” and comparing him to former Representative Liz Cheney, whom Trump successfully helped oust in 2022. Trump’s ire appears to stem from Massie’s refusal to support a short-term government funding bill backed by the president, as well as his broader history of bucking party leadership. However, posts on X and comments from Massie’s supporters suggest that his stance on dual citizenship and his rejection of AIPAC funding may also be fueling the conflict.
AIPAC, a powerful lobbying organization that spent over $100 million in the 2024 election cycle to support pro-Israel candidates, has had a fraught relationship with Massie. In a June 2024 interview with Tucker Carlson, Massie claimed that every Republican congressman except him has an “AIPAC babysitter” – a liaison who lobbies them on behalf of the group’s interests. He has also criticized U.S. military aid to Israel, notably boycotting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress in July 2024 and calling for Israel to fund its own weapons if it targets civilian infrastructure in Lebanon. AIPAC, in turn, has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on attack ads against Massie in past primaries, though he easily won reelection in Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District in November 2024 with no Democratic opponent.
Hellbound and Down 