A public feud among prominent conservatives erupted Thursday night after Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky sharply criticized commentator Mark Levin for sharing a false story about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
The dispute began when Levin reacted to a report claiming that independent journalist Nick Shirley had obtained “proof” that Greene had been “bribed” to change her political positions. The allegation quickly gained attention online, particularly because Greene has increasingly broken with President Donald Trump and his administration on several major issues in recent months.
For years, Greene was regarded as one of Trump’s most loyal allies in Congress. More recently, however, she has become more critical of the administration on a range of topics, including economic policy, the war involving Iran, the handling of the Epstein files, and other issues. Her shift has generated controversy among some conservatives and prompted speculation about her motivations.
Levin appeared to lend credibility to the claim when he shared the story on social media and responded with a brief but pointed comment: “Oh my.”
The claim quickly unraveled.
Users on X added a community note to Levin’s post explaining that the story was not legitimate. According to the note, the report originated from “America’s Last Line of Defense,” a well-known satire account that openly states that its content is not real.
Nick Shirley himself also weighed in directly, denying the story.
“This is not true,” Shirley wrote in response to Levin’s post.
That denial did little to calm the controversy. Instead, it drew a sharp response from Massie, who questioned why Levin had shared the claim in the first place.
“Are you really this stupid or are you reposting what you know is fake news? Which is it?” Massie wrote, publicly confronting the longtime conservative commentator.
Greene also fired back. Referencing Levin’s role at Fox News, she challenged him over the decision to circulate a story that had already been debunked.
“How do Fox News attorneys feel about you spreading lies from a parody account that has already been proven false?” Greene asked.
The exchange highlighted growing tensions among factions on the political right. Both Greene and Massie have become increasingly vocal critics of Trump from a conservative perspective, particularly on issues where they believe the administration has strayed from its previous positions.
Their alliance has become more visible in recent months. Following Massie’s primary defeat in Kentucky, the two lawmakers even vacationed together in Costa Rica alongside their respective partners.
Massie’s loss marked the end of a hard-fought and highly expensive primary campaign. Earlier this month, he was defeated by Trump-backed former Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein in what became the most expensive House primary race in history.
Throughout the contest, Trump repeatedly targeted Massie online and encouraged Republican voters to remove him from office. The effort ultimately succeeded, ending Massie’s congressional career after years as one of the most independent-minded Republicans in Washington.
The latest clash over the false Greene story serves as another reminder of the increasingly bitter disagreements unfolding within conservative circles. While many Republicans remain united on broad policy goals, disputes over loyalty, foreign policy, and political direction continue to fuel divisions that show little sign of disappearing anytime soon.
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