Since Donald Trump's rise to the White House a decade ago, the US president has purged his Republican Party of critics and rivals. Many politicians dropped their earlier criticism and earned a place in his inner circle, while others retired early to avoid a fight.

Congressman Thomas Massie, a Kentucky libertarian, remains one of the last dissidents. He has voted against a key Trump tax bill, pushed for release of Jeffrey Epstein files, and opposed war on Iran and US aid to Israel.

Now Massie faces a career-defining primary against Trump-endorsed Ed Gallrein, a former Navy SEAL, with pro-Israel groups spending heavily against him. The May 21 contest tests Massie's principles: constitutional loyalty, integrity, and resistance to special interests.

Massie's opponents flood airwaves with ads portraying him as insufficiently conservative. One AI-generated ad showed Massie holding hands with progressive Democratic congresswomen, calling it a "throuple."

Massie argues that pro-Israel lobby groups like AIPAC are funding his opponent, making the race unusually tight. He claims foreign interests are driving the campaign against him.

Source: www.aljazeera.com