GOP Lawmaker Deletes Tweet Comparing Vaccine Mandates to the Holocaust

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has deleted a tweet comparing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the tattoos issued to concentration camp prisoners during the Holocaust.

Massie, who represents Kentucky's 4th congressional district, on Wednesday shared the image of a clenched fist with a numbered tattoo on a wrist, similar to Nazi concentration camps identification numbers.

The photo contains the caption: "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."

The tweet was taken down, but a screenshot was reshared on Twitter by Andrew Kaczynski of CNN's KFile.

A number of people condemned Massie on Twitter for his tweet comparing vaccine mandates to the Holocaust.

Andrew Weinstein, chair of the Democratic Lawyers Council, tweeted: "Rep. Thomas Massie—who voted against funding to help schools teach students about the Holocaust and antisemitism—tweeted (and deleted) this meme tonight. Care to comment [House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy]?"

Veteran cartoonist for The Salt Lake Tribune Pat Bagley wrote: "Thomas Massie, a child of privilege and wealth, who has never been denied anything he ever wanted, is comparing getting a vaccine—which 99% of Americans have done in their lifetimes—to the Holocaust. Such an a**."

Public radio producer Laura Lorson added: "Thomas Massie represents the Commonwealth of Kentucky, a state which produces a great deal of Bourbon whiskey, which I assure you, is a commodity for which establishments selling said product will require display of a government-issued card stating identity and age."

Massie has frequently spoken out against COVID-19 vaccine requirements, namely in the military.

He is also a co-sponsor of the "Fire Fauci Act," which was brought forward by Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

The act called for Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to have his salary reduced to $0 until he is replaced, following the release of thousands of Fauci's emails, which renewed criticism of his response to the coronavirus pandemic

Earlier in 2021, Greene was forced to apologize after she repeatedly suggested mask mandates were similar to the treatment of Jews during the Holocaust.

In May, Greene said that Democrats requiring people to wear masks inside the House was similar to how Nazis made Jewish people "wear a gold star" during World War II.

Greene later doubled down on her remarks when asked about them, claiming that "any rational Jewish person" would oppose mask mandates just like they "didn't like what happened in Nazi Germany."

On May 25, Greene tweeted a story about a Tennessee supermarket allowing customers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to shop without masks: "Vaccinated employees get a vaccination logo just like the Nazi's forced Jewish people to wear a gold star."

In a speech outside the Capitol in June, Greene admitted there is "no comparison" between the Holocaust and COVID-19 guidelines.

Massie has been contacted for comment.