Former U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL), who consistently opposed additional U.S. aid to Israel, said the Republicans who voted Thursday against Rep. Thomas Massie‘s (R-KY) amendment to cut $3.3 billion in aid to Israel from the State Department’s appropriations bill are living in “political fear.”
[NOTE: Not one Republican voted in favor of Massie’s amendment, although it did receive widespread Democratic support in the House with 103 Democrats voting in favor. The amendment failed 104-314-10.]
On his podcast, when asked why none of the ‘America First’ Republicans are working with Massie on the issue, Gaetz (who endorsed Massie in the GOP primary against Trump’s pick Ed Gallrein) said: “Republicans are concerned what might happen to them after watching what happened to Thomas Massie. Thomas Massie just had tens of millions of dollars dumped on his head in Kentucky and lost a district that he had won for more than a decade. I think it is a function of political fear.”
SHARP: “Every single Republican voted against Massie’s amendment and voted to give aid to Israel.
Why is it only Democrats that [Massie] can work with on this?”
GAETZ: “Republicans are concerned what might happen to them after watching what happened to Thomas Massie.
Thomas… https://t.co/sbjXM2RN5P pic.twitter.com/eHdGiGbH5z
— Former Congressman Matt Gaetz (@FmrRepMattGaetz) July 16, 2026
[NOTE: While campaigning against Gallrein, Massie was targeted in a series of attack ads largely funded by three billionaire Trump supporters (Miriam Adelson, Paul Singer and John Paulson). Massie told Tucker Carlson, of the billionaires behind the ads, “Their position is more war, it’s more strife, it’s more bombs, it’s more foreign aid, and those are the things that I’ve been voting against.”]
Massie called the Democratic support of his amendment this week “a sign of shifting perceptions” on U.S. support for Israel, which has faced criticism for the humanitarian impacts of its war against Hamas in Gaza, an issue dividing Democrats.
Pro-Israel U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) has threatened to leave the Democratic party if it becomes the “anti-Israel party.” Fetterman said on Thursday: “If they put that in our platform — no aid for Israel — and officially become the anti-Israel party, then yeah, that’s a red line for me.”
FOX: Democratic Pennsylvania senator John Fetterman threatening to desert his party if the party deserts Israel.
Fetterman: That’s my red line. pic.twitter.com/gXoaDGqCSw
— Acyn (@Acyn) July 16, 2026
U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), who voted in favor of Massie’s amendment, wrote on social media: “Today over 100 Democrats voted for the Massie Amendment to zero aid to Israel. My brother @RepBowman & @CoriBush lost their seats for this stand 2 years ago. As a colleague told me, Black martyrdom is normalized in America. Today I want to recognize their courage.”
Unfortunately @RoKhanna, this is the kind of position that will cause people like me to step away from the Democratic party. https://t.co/npdNPE4D0q
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) July 17, 2026
Khanna’s post wasn’t well received by influential Democratic gun control advocate Fred Guttenberg, who replied to Khanna: “Unfortunately @RoKhanna, this is the kind of position that will cause people like me to step away from the Democratic party.”
When Khanna replied, “I am sorry to hear that Fred as I respect you. So you would vote for Rubio or Vance over the Democratic nominee in 2028?”, Guttenberg accused Khanna of “playing games,” and replied: “If I stay in this party, I will do everything I can with many others who agree with me to ensure this is not the position of a future Democratic Presidential candidate.”
Guttenberg added: “I will not vote for Rubio or Vance. I will also not vote for someone who holds this position. Again, this is not me moving away from my party, this is my party moving away from me.”
I am sorry to hear that Fred as I respect you. So you would vote for Rubio or Vance over the Democratic nominee in 2028? https://t.co/dY8ojRBiBV
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) July 17, 2026
The discussion emphasized the third-rail aspect of the Israeli issue and its potential to blow up accord between otherwise aligned constituencies. It’s also a signal that Gaetz’s description of party members acting out of political fear might increasingly apply to elected officials in both parties.