A campaign advertisement supporting Representative Thomas Massie in the Republican primary election has sparked controversy for using the Star of David to highlight a Jewish donor backing his opponent, Ed Gallrein. The ad, produced by Hold The Line PAC, labels GOP donor Paul Singer as a "far-left trans activist billionaire" who supports Gallrein to bring "trans madness" to Kentucky.
Ad Content and Reaction
The narrator of the ad states, "Paul Singer is a major pro-gay, pro-trans activist who works with far-left hard-core Democrats." The Star of David appears behind Singer in the ad, seemingly to signal his Jewish background as a negative attribute. The ad does not mention Israel. Axios and AdImpact first reported on the ad and its gratuitous use of the symbol. Hold The Line PAC could not be reached for comment, and Massie's campaign, which did not produce the ad, did not respond to requests for comment.
Expensive and Nasty Race
President Donald Trump recruited Gallrein to challenge Massie due to Massie's refusal to back priority legislation and his work exposing the Epstein Files. This race has become one of the most expensive House primaries in U.S. history, with both candidates attacking each other as closet liberals and betrayers of Trump.
Another recent ad targeting Gallrein, a former Navy Seal, uses AI-generated video to depict him abandoning Trump on the battlefield. Meanwhile, an ad targeting Massie uses AI video to show him holding hands in a romantic tryst with Democratic women lawmakers, including Representative Ilhan Omar. Omar condemned the ad, stating, "Campaign attack ads are generally misleading, but AI-generated ads like this cross a line and should never have been allowed in the first place."
Polling and Context
Polling suggests Massie holds a slim lead in the race. The ad featuring the Star of David has drawn criticism for its antisemitic undertones, adding to the contentious nature of the campaign.
