Rep. Thomas Massie reports $177K fundraising boost after Trump targets him, as pro-Israel group AIPAC joins escalating dispute.

Fundraising Surge Follows Trump’s Criticism

Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, revealed Thursday that his campaign raised $177,394 in recent days—an unusually strong show of support after repeated attacks from President Donald Trump. Massie’s announcement, shared on social media and in statements to Fox News Digital, emphasized the outpouring of grassroots support from nearly 2,000 donors determined to keep him in office.

“Will lobbyists for a FOREIGN country be able to buy a seat in Congress? That’s the question in my re-election. 1,900 of you donated $177,394 this week to make sure I can hold this office to represent American interests, not foreign interests,” Massie posted on his campaign X account, underlining his commitment to an “America first” agenda.

The financial boost for Massie comes in the wake of direct criticism from President Trump, who has repeatedly used his Truth Social platform to call out the Kentucky congressman. Trump’s posts labeled Massie as a “pathetic LOSER” and urged Kentucky voters to “GET THIS ‘BUM’ OUT OF OFFICE, ASAP!!!”

AIPAC and ‘America First’ Divide Highlighted

Despite Trump’s high-profile opposition, Massie argues that most of his donors are also Trump supporters but believe congressional representatives should not be “a rubber stamp for the President or beholden to foreign interest groups like AIPAC.” The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a prominent pro-Israel advocacy group, responded sharply. Spokesman Marshall Wittmann accused Massie of “outrageously questioning the patriotism of millions of American citizens,” adding, “While the overwhelming majority of Americans support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, Rep. Massie regularly votes with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders to undermine our partnership with Israel.”

Massie countered that AIPAC supports “endless foreign aid and US involvement in wars in the Middle-East, which contradicts the America first policies I support on behalf of Kentuckians.” He pointed out that the group spent $400,000 to oppose him in the previous election and is now threatening to spend more this cycle.

The public rift between Massie, Trump, and AIPAC comes at a tense moment in the Republican Party, as debates intensify over foreign policy and party loyalty ahead of Kentucky’s primary. Massie, known for his independent voting record, was one of only two Republicans to oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last month and has publicly criticized Trump’s recent military actions as “not Constitutional.”

Trump continued his campaign against Massie with a series of posts this week, accusing the congressman of being “very bad for the Constitution” and promising to support a primary challenger in Kentucky. Massie, for his part, highlighted a 2022 Trump endorsement to question the president’s shifting stance, stating, “For those who want to know what @realDonaldTrump really thinks of me, this should clear things up…”

As the primary season approaches, the clash between Massie and Trump underscores broader divisions within the GOP and the high stakes for lawmakers who challenge presidential influence or established lobbying groups.