Skip to main content

← Members Who Opposed

Rep. Thomas Massie: "This Is Not Our War"

Evidence rating: CONFIRMED for his votes, from House roll calls. STRONG for his statements, from his own posts and his office's release as quoted by news reports. STRONG that the President launched a primary campaign against him after he opposed the June 2025 strikes, from the President's own words as quoted.

Thomas Massie, a Republican representing Kentucky's 4th District, is the member of Congress most identified with opposing the Iran war from the right. He voted yes on every House war-powers resolution in 2025 and 2026, co-wrote the first one, and in September 2026 filed articles of impeachment against the Defense Secretary. He paid a political price at each step.

June 2025: before and after the strikes​

On June 17, 2025, as Israel's strikes on Iran continued and Washington weighed joining, Massie wrote: "This is not our war. But even if it were, the Constitution stipulates that Congress is the one that must make such decisions ... I will introduce a bipartisan bill on war powers tomorrow to prevent our intervention. I call on all members of Congress to support this bill" (as quoted by Middle East Observer). With Rep. Ro Khanna he introduced H.Con.Res. 38. His statement: "The Constitution does not permit the executive branch to unilaterally commit an act of war against a sovereign nation that hasn't attacked the United States. Congress has the sole power to declare war against Iran. The ongoing war between Israel and Iran is not our war. Even if it were, Congress must decide such matters according to our Constitution" (Reddit r/politics, quoting the release). A commenter on the same thread noted: "Massie is the only Repub. to sign off on this House resolution."

After the June 21 strikes: "President Trump's strikes are unconstitutional and put Americans, especially our troops, at risk." The President answered: "Thomas Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes 'NO' on virtually everything. He is not MAGA, and it's time for Kentucky to find a real Republican to represent them. Launching Kentucky MAGA to make it happen!" A Kentucky commentator reported the effort was run by Tony Fabrizio and Chris LaCivita and aimed at the May 2026 primary (Donnie Cope on X, June 23, 2025). Some online called him "a traitor" who "should register as a Democrat" (post, June 24, 2025).

In December 2025, the Quincy Institute honored Massie and Khanna for their war-powers resolutions, according to a later summary (Grok on X, March 1, 2026).

February and March 2026​

Before the war began: "Congress must vote on war according to our Constitution. @RepRoKhanna and I will be forcing that vote to happen in the House as soon as possible. I will vote to put America first which means voting against more war in the Middle East" (Massie on X, February 19, 2026). A call script circulating that week told constituents to demand support for "the Khanna–Massie War Powers Resolution" and to ask "Are we or are we not at war with Iran?" (Hometown Holler call script).

On March 5, the House rejected H.Con.Res. 38, 212 to 219. Massie and Warren Davidson were the only Republicans voting yes. On the floor: "That debate is meant to be arduous. And that vote is meant to be hard" (Roll Call). See March 2026.

The primary against him​

His challenger, Ed Gallrein, described by supporters as a retired Navy SEAL captain, framed the war in religious terms: "Gallrein claimed Iran is 'one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse,'" according to a poster who shared a 15-second clip (Shadow of Ezra, as quoted May 16, 2026). A snippet on an X search page, with no post id or date, attributed to "THOMAS MASSIE'S OPPONENT" the words "We're running out of time and need to implement selective service now" (an X search snippet in our research captures); we could not verify it beyond the snippet, so we do not attribute it to Gallrein by name. Retired Army colonel and commentator Kurt Schlichter posted on the day the war began: "Count on Thomas Massie to undermine our troops. Ever. Single. Time. Kentucky-4 deserves a patriotic congressman - @EdGallrein." A mother answered him: "He's not undermining our troops. He wants our troops to be alive, Schmuck. My 18 year old literally just signed up for his mandatory selective service last week, and I don't want him going to Iran" (Kristina Olson on X, February 28, 2026).

The later votes and the impeachment​

Massie voted yes on every House resolution: March 5, April 16 (213 to 214), May 14 (212 to 212), June 3 (passed 215 to 208), July 23 (passed 214 to 208), and September 15 (passed 220 to 204). In September 2026 he filed eight articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a 34-page filing read into the Congressional Record, according to a summary; see The Hegseth Impeachment Articles. A constituent: "My Congressman Thomas Massie is right to force an impeachment vote on Hegseth. The facts are not in dispute" (Shannon on X, September 16, 2026).

His record before this war shows the same position: he voted with Democrats in January 2020 to limit strikes on Iran after the Soleimani killing, according to a list of his votes (Luke on X, May 15, 2026). A Kentucky commentator also lists him as a no vote on the FY2026 defense bill that made draft registration automatic (Donnie Cope).

Why he matters to this section​

Massie's line, "The ongoing war between Israel and Iran is not our war," is the plainest statement in Congress of this investigation's central question: whose war is it, and whose children will fight it? He has been punished for saying it, by a presidential primary campaign and by his own party's leaders. Members who watch that happen learn what opposing the war costs.

Status: Alive. Also alive: Ro Khanna, Warren Davidson, Donald Trump, Ed Gallrein, Kurt Schlichter, Kristina Olson, Tony Fabrizio, Chris LaCivita, and Pete Hegseth. This page reports votes, filings, and public statements; the impeachment articles are allegations, not findings.

Sources​

Research captures: twitter/t14__v159.md, t14__v165.md, t41__v481.md, t46__v541.md, t46__v542.md, t47__v555.md, t47__v557.md, t47__v561.md

Last Updated: 2026-09-26

Last updated on