GOP Rep Deletes Tweet Comparing COVID Vaccine Passports to Holocaust

Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) deleted an August 25 tweet comparing COVID-19 vaccine passports to the Holocaust.

The tweet contained an image of an arm with a number on it––referencing how the Nazis gave Jewish prisoners in death camps numbers as their identity––with a caption that read: “If you have to carry a card on you to gain access to a restaurant, venue or an event in your own country… that’s no longer a free country.”

Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie deleted a tweet Wednesday night comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust. pic.twitter.com/QTSSH7eqpY

— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) August 26, 2021

The tweet sparked outrage on Twitter.

“Members of Congress who continue to exploit the systematic murder of six million Jews to appease a political base have lost sight of their morals,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted. “The comparisons between public health measures and the Holocaust must stop. @RepThomasMassie must apologize immediately.”

Members of Congress who continue to exploit the systematic murder of six million Jews to appease a political base have lost sight of their morals.

The comparisons between public health measures and the Holocaust must stop. @RepThomasMassie must apologize immediately. https://t.co/caGkFUqqA7

— American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) August 26, 2021

Anti-Defamation League Cleveland similarly tweeted, “We should not have to keep repeating this – health safety measures are in NO WAY comparable to the atrocities of the Holocaust. Making this comparison dishonors the memories of those murdered by the Nazis. @RepThomasMassie should apologize immediately; deleting this isn’t enough.”

We should not have to keep repeating this – health safety measures are in NO WAY comparable to the atrocities of the Holocaust. Making this comparison dishonors the memories of those murdered by the Nazis.@RepThomasMassie should apologize immediately; deleting this isn't enough. pic.twitter.com/ZDD5u66Cvd

— ADL Cleveland (@ADL_Cleveland) August 26, 2021

Joel M. Petlin, Superintendent of the Kiryas Joel School District in New York, thanked Massie for deleting the tweet. “For the 4000 people who liked the Tweet, the 1000 more who retweeted it and for all those offended, he should clear the record with an explanation and an apology.”

Thank you @RepThomasMassie for deleting this offensive Tweet which was demeaning to the victims of the Holocaust.

For the 4000 people who liked the Tweet, the 1000 more who retweeted it and for all those offended, he should clear the record with an explanation and an apology.

— Joel M. Petlin (@Joelmpetlin) August 26, 2021

An intern for Massie, Andrew Zirkle, announced on Twitter that he was going to resign from his position over Massie’s tweet.

“These sorts of statements and comparisons are highly inappropriate and are not something I want to associate with personally or professionally,” he wrote. “Belittling the Holocaust in this way is an affront to the Jewish community as well as any survivors or family of those who perished.”

2/ These sorts of statements and comparisons are highly inappropriate and are not something I want to associate with personally or professionally. Belittling the Holocaust in this way is an affront to the Jewish community as well as any survivors or family of those who perished.

— 🦀Andrew Zirkle🦀 (@theandrewzirkle) August 26, 2021

3/ Everyone has personal limits of what is intolerable and this is one of mine. I hope to take what experience I gained from DC and move on stronger to the next challenge. -AZ

— 🦀Andrew Zirkle🦀 (@theandrewzirkle) August 26, 2021

Massie’s office did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.