The AI Attack Ad Against Massie
The MAGA KY PAC created and distributed an AI-generated deepfake video attacking Congressman Thomas Massie in the northern Kentucky GOP primary. The ad depicted Massie holding hands with Democratic congressional members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar as they checked into a hotel together, with the opening text reading 'Thomas Massie caught in a throuple!' The ad used faked CCTV footage and tabloid-style images to reinforce the false implication. A narrator claimed Massie was 'cheating with the Squad on the America First movement' by voting with Democrats multiple times, and urged Kentucky voters to 'fire' Massie during the May 19 primary. The ad included a small white text disclaimer stating 'This satirical ad was created with artificial intelligence,' which Massie argued was insufficient to prevent older voters from being deceived.
Massie's Response and Legal Challenges
Massie strongly criticized the ad, calling it 'disgusting' and 'defamatory' on social media. He stated the ad 'reeks of desperation' and expressed concern that it was designed to deceive older voters unfamiliar with AI technology. Massie appeared at a KET debate on May 5 where he further condemned the ad as 'beyond the pale,' predicting it could backfire on the opposing campaign. Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene publicly defended Massie and argued the ad violates the Take It Down Act, a federal law championed by First Lady Melania Trump that prohibits knowingly publishing non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated versions. However, legal experts noted it remains unclear whether the ad fits the definition of prohibited 'non-consensual intimate imagery' under the law. Under Kentucky's 2025 state legislation, candidates can sue for an injunction if AI-generated ads lack 'clear and conspicuous' disclosures, though the law does not outright prohibit deepfakes.
The Dueling Deepfake Campaign
The Massie-Gallrein primary features AI-generated attacks from both sides. Earlier in the spring, the pro-Massie group Kentucky 4th PAC released attack ads against Ed Gallrein using AI-generated videos depicting him fleeing from a Trump rally, changing his voter registration, and running from a World War I-era foxhole while leaving Trump behind. The ad included no apparent disclosures that AI was used. Gallrein, a retired Navy SEAL, responded through a statement from retired Col. Walter Herd calling the ad an 'insult to all veterans' and accusing Massie of cowardice for creating such deceptive content. Both sets of ads were created by independent PACs and cannot be directly controlled or removed by either candidate's campaign.
Political Context and Funding
The contentious primary stems from Trump's endorsement of Ed Gallrein and his rally appearance for Gallrein in March 2026. MAGA KY PAC, the group behind the Massie deepfake attack, was launched by Trump allies in summer 2025 and has spent millions attacking Massie. The PAC is funded by GOP megadonors Paul Singer and hedge fund manager John Paulson, as well as a PAC belonging to Miriam Adelson. Both campaigns have blamed the opposing side for the deepfake ads despite their independent creation. An April poll from Quantus Insights found Massie leading Gallrein with 46.8% support among likely registered voters, though 14% remained undecided. Gallrein notably declined to appear at a KET debate with Massie on May 5.
Kentucky's AI Regulation Framework
Kentucky lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation in 2025 to regulate AI and 'synthetic media' use in political campaigns, with only a few liberty-wing Republicans voting against it. The law does not include criminal penalties and does not prohibit deepfakes outright. Instead, it allows candidates to file civil complaints if ads do not include 'clear and conspicuous' disclosures that AI was used. Candidates believing ads violate the law can sue for an injunction in circuit court. The Massie deepfake ad included a small disclaimer stating it was 'created with artificial intelligence,' which Massie argued fails to meet the 'clear and conspicuous' standard. 
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