Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) was recently threatened with a $500 fine after publishing a video of Democrats waving the Ukrainian flag in Congress.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, Massie posted the video on the same day that the House passed a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
This is the U.S. House of Representatives under the direction of Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats are celebrating his total capitulation with no victory for securing our border. #MTV pic.twitter.com/TtaIgnX9eg
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 20, 2024
Several days after posting the video on social media, Massie revealed that the House Sergeant at Arms had threatened to fine him if he didn’t remove the publication.
“Instead of fining democrats for waving flags, the House Sergeant at Arms just called and said I will be fined $500 if I don’t delete this video post. Mike Johnson really wants to memory hole this betrayal of America,” Massie wrote.
This is the U.S. House of Representatives under the direction of Speaker Mike Johnson. Democrats are celebrating his total capitulation with no victory for securing our border. #MTV pic.twitter.com/TtaIgnX9eg
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 20, 2024
The Kentucky Republican’s post sparked massive backlash, with critics denouncing the House Sergeant at Arms and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA).
On X, conservative commentator Marleah Aragon issued a scathing rebuke of the Democrats who waved the Ukrainian flags, arguing that they should be fined and removed from Congress.
“They should be fined and kicked out for betraying the American people. Since when did Ukraine become the 51st state of the U.S.,” Aragon wrote.
X user LionHearted76 also claimed that the Democratic Party favors Ukraine over the U.S., adding that the left’s prioritization of Ukraine as America faces an unprecedented southern border crisis angers Americans.
“Seeing Congressmen waving Ukrainian flags like children while our border is wide open, and they have done NOTHING to protect the American people makes me angry as hell!” the user wrote. “For Democrats, it’s Ukraine first, America last.”
What a disgrace! Now they want to HIDE it? Expel them all!
Seeing Congressmen waving Ukrainian flags like children while our border is wide open, and they have done NOTHING to protect the American people makes me angry as hell!
For Democrats, it’s Ukraine first, America last.
— LionHearted (@LionHearted76) April 23, 2024
Much to Johnson’s credit, the House speaker spoke to the House Sergeant at Arms and worked out a deal to prevent Massie from being fined $500.
“Upon reviewing Rep. Massie’s tweet, our team reached out to the Sergeant at Arms. I do not agree with this assessment and there will be no fine imposed on Rep. Massie,” Johnson wrote on X.
Upon viewing Rep. Massie’s tweet, our team reached out to the Sergeant at Arms. I do not agree with this assessment and there will be no fine imposed on Rep. Massie. https://t.co/isqVHdVjUQ
— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) April 23, 2024
Despite his efforts to prevent Massie from being penalized, Johnson’s tweet was heavily criticized by some, who said they didn’t believe him since he helped orchestrate the passage of a massive foreign aid package.
