Republican Congressman Paul Gosar from Arizona caused controversy this week by sharing several conspiracy theories in his official House of Representatives newsletter. One of these theories was found to have antisemitic ties.
In his weekly newsletter to constituents, Congressman Gosar addressed a message from a resident of Surprise who expressed opposition to President-elect Donald Trump’s nominations of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard for positions in the new administration.
Gosar stood up for former Congresswoman Gabbard, who has faced criticism for her limited experience in the intelligence community. According to Gosar, this very lack of experience is what qualifies her for the position.
In the newsletter, Gosar expressed concern over the lack of experience in the “intelligence community” of the individual in question. He highlighted the alleged involvement of this community in various controversial incidents, such as suppressing the Hunter Biden laptop story, creating the Russia-Gate narrative, orchestrating the change in Ukraine’s government in 2014, coordinating a false flag operation with the Israeli government in 1967, being responsible for the Bay of Pigs incident, and potentially even having a hand in the assassination of President Kennedy.
Gosar defends Gabbard by promoting conspiracy theories, including the alleged involvement of Hunter Biden in a bribery scandal with ties to Russia. He also perpetuates myths about the assassination of President Kennedy.
He brings up the sinking of the U.S.S. Liberty, which is connected to an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Sarah Kader, deputy regional director of the Anti-Defamation League’s Arizona chapter, criticized Congressman Gosar’s newsletter for its reference to the USS Liberty incident. In a statement to the Arizona Mirror, Kader described the reference as misguided and potentially antisemitic.
Kader emphasized that conspiracy theorists and antisemites have often exploited the USS Liberty incident to advance harmful narratives against the Jewish community and the U.S.-Israel relationship. He pointed out that the long-standing conspiracy theories surrounding the USS Liberty have been thoroughly discredited. By referencing this incident in such a manner, Gosar is perpetuating falsehoods that not only reinforce antisemitic stereotypes but also undermine the quality of public discourse.
Gosar’s office did not respond to a request for comment regarding the story or provide any answers about the authorship of the Congressman’s reply in the newsletter.
Iran is currently utilizing conspiracy theories surrounding the U.S.S. Liberty incident to fuel hatred towards Jewish people and Israel. These theories have also become a favorite tool for neo-Nazis and other individuals who promote antisemitism.
Gosar has been using his platform to amplify extremists for a significant amount of time.
In 2021, Gosar actively supported the works of Vincent James Foxx, a well-known white nationalist who had taken on the role of an unofficial propagandist for a neo-Nazi fight club. It is worth noting that Gosar had previously spoken at the same white nationalist conference as Foxx a few years back. Notably, this conference also featured the presence of Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust-denier and antisemite. It is important to highlight that Gosar was the first sitting politician to attend such an event.
Gosar promoted work that discussed the “great replacement theory,” which is an idea embraced by white supremacists. This theory suggests that immigrants are replacing white Americans. Extremist groups like the American Identity Movement and Generation Identity have latched onto this concept.
The concept of the great replacement theory has not only sparked controversy but has also fueled acts of violence. The fear of immigrants challenging the idea of a predominantly white Christian Europe was a driving force behind Anders Behring Breivik’s horrific rampage in 2011 at a Norwegian youth summer camp.
The deadliest attack against the Jewish community in United States history occurred in Pittsburgh in 2018, known as the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. Prior to carrying out the attack, the perpetrator expressed his belief on the right-wing social media site Gab that immigrants were being brought in to replace and harm the Jewish community.
In 2019, a tragic incident took place in El Paso, Texas, where a shooter claimed the lives of 23 individuals in a Walmart. Shockingly, the shooter referenced the manifesto of the New Zealand shooter in his own, stating that it was a direct response to what he perceived as the “hispanic invasion of Texas.”
Gosar often taps into meme culture on his Twitter account, with a particular focus on the #DarkMAGA movement. This movement, rooted in accelerationist neo-Nazi meme culture, often promotes violence against perceived enemies and is often accompanied by neo-Nazi imagery.
Gosar’s staff claimed that they had no knowledge of #DarkMAGA until the Mirror brought it to their attention.
In addition, Gosar has hired two individuals with affiliations to white nationalist groups to work in his office.
Kader emphasized the influential role of the Congressman as a public servant and urged him to carefully consider the consequences of referring to such narratives. He pointed out the potential harm that these references can cause to Jewish Americans, the broader community, and the important U.S.-Israel alliance.