Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley lambasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for campaigning with Rep. Thomas Massie, who has joined him at several events in Iowa over the past month.
Haley accused Massie of being anti-Israel and criticized DeSantis for associating himself with the Kentucky congressman.
“It’s really rich that Ron is going to act like he suddenly cares for Israel when he brought the person to Iowa that is the most anti-Israel Republican in the state, the person that went and voted against Israel's right to exist in Congress, the person that voted with ‘The Squad' against antisemitism on college campuses,” Haley claimed. “And you brought that person to Iowa to go and campaign with you. If that’s your friend, I’d hate to see who the rest of your friends are.”
“That’s just cheap garbage,” DeSantis replied.
“It’s true,” Haley shot back.
More background: Massie was the only House Republican to vote against condemning antisemitism on university campuses and the testimony of university presidents. As CNN previously reported, Massie was also the sole Republican to vote against a resolution condemning antisemitism earlier this month following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Sen. Chuck Schumer also accused Massie of posting an antisemitic post on social media, calling it “disgusting” and “dangerous.”
The night before Massie first appeared on the campaign trail with DeSantis in Iowa in December, Haley’s campaign sent out an email blast with links to Massie’s voting record in Congress.
Haley spokesperson Nachama Soloveichik said in a statement, “Ron DeSantis needs to explain to Iowa voters why he is palling around with an anti-Israel congressman who votes to undermine Israel and foster antisemitism.”
Addressing reporters in Fort Dodge at the event, DeSantis defended Massie.
“The thing about Thomas, he's very principled about it. He’s not for or against any country. Obviously, I've been a big supporter of supporting Israel. I think it's in our national interest. When he gets tagged as somehow being against Israel, specifically, that is not true. He has voted against 100% of it. That's his position. And he's been very principled on that,” DeSantis said at the time.
Massie also claimed he’s taking hits because he does not support sending foreign aid overseas, noting that he and DeSantis differ on foreign policy.
On the debate stage, Haley continued to attack DeSantis for losing the endorsement of the only Jewish Florida state lawmaker who flipped to Trump in October.
DeSantis defended his record on Israel at the time, telling reporters in New Hampshire it was “pure politics.”
