‘This is Not a Gotcha’: CNN’s Bolduan and Rep. Massie Clash Over His Votes on Israel Resolutions in Tense Exchange

An interview with a GOP congressman started out congenial and ended on a hot, hot note when CNN’s Kate Bolduan took Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) to task on an Israel resolution he voted against.

After discussing the spending bill that may or may not threaten a government shutdown (again), Bolduan turned to the campaign trail. Massie is a surrogate for presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), and while he was not named during CNN’s debate on Wednesday, he was called out by former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (R) as “the most anti-Israel Republican” who “voted against Israel’s right to exist in Congress.”

Haley was referring to House Resolution 888, entitled “Reaffirming the State of Israel’s right to exist,” which was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support with 21 not voting, one member voting present, and one sole vote against: Massie’s. It’s a quick read, and plainly states what Bolduan presented to Massie, that the resolution “reaffirms the state of Israel’s right to exist, recognizes that denying Israel’s right to exist is a form of anti-Semitism.”

Massie tried to argue that “inside of that resolution, they equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism,” but as Bolduan bluntly pointed out, “It does not.” While the text does not explicitly equate anti-Zionism with anti-Semitism, it does state that denying Israel’s right to exist is a form of anti-Semitism.

This was where the conversation took a turn:

Bolduan: This is not a gotcha in any way, shape or form. I know you can respect how serious I am about the research I do on these things —

Massie: Oh, I love being able to discuss this with you.

Bolduan: The week later, there was a resolution that did equate anti-Zionism to being anti-Semitic. And in that, 92 Democrats voted present in protest. 13 Democrats voted against it: Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), they spoke out against it. The Jewish members did speak out against that.

Massie: Correct.

Bolduan: And the week before, you were the only one to vote against. Did you not read it?

Massie: I read it and they came to me and said, “Gee, you’re brave. We’d like to vote the way you’re voting. But this is, this is a political gotcha.” And so then a week later, a lot of them didn’t have the courage to vote “no,” as you pointed out, they voted “present.” That’s the difference between me and these other folks up here. I have the courage. I’ll come on your show and take the heat. But I’ll also talk about what’s in that resolution.

Bolduan: “Recognizes that denying Israel’s right to exist is a form of anti-Semitism.”

Massie: That’s the name of the resolution. Congratulations, that’s the name of the resolution.

Bolduan: You do not support that. I’m not reading the name of the resolution —

Massie: Congratulations, you are able to read the name of the resolution. I don’t vote on the names.

Bolduan: Ooh. Ooh, Congressman, I don’t think you want to… I don’t think you’re trying to question my intelligence now, are you?

Massie: No, I’m just saying you don’t have time to prepare for this like I did.

Bolduan: Do you mean the two pages that I read in two minutes this morning and highlighted the “resolved” that the House of Representatives –?

Massie: Oh, good for you. You took two minutes.

Bolduan: OH.

Massie: There have been 19 resolutions. I know what’s in all of them. I study them, and I say right on social media, if you’d done a little more research, you wouldn’t have to ask me if I acknowledge Israel’s right to exist. It’s right there on my social media.

Bolduan: I can read your, I’ve read your social media. I also think given what is stated in this resolution, it is worthy of re-asking.

Massie: I enjoyed this dialogue. I hope I get to come back on and talk about what’s in these bills again.

Bolduan: In these resolutions, and in these statements made by Congress, and in this resolution where everyone but you voted against, voted in support of. I’m happy to have you on any time to discuss, and will continue to do my research and do not appreciate when someone even suggests or insinuates that I’m not prepared.

Massie: I only suggest that you didn’t have time to do the research that I’ve done. You did some research.

Bolduan: Congressman Massie, thank you for coming on.

The end of the conversation was punctuated by a sardonic Sara Sidner: “That was enlightening.”

Watch the video above via CNN.