Some members of Congress make a name for themselves with signature legislation or federal funds for their districts. Matt Gaetz has chosen a more Trump-like route, defending the president at all costs and hurling insults at anyone who dares to cross either of them. Here are some of his most outrageous comments:
In 2013, taking to Twitter to mock a participant in Floridaās public assistance program
Yesterday I saw a lady at Publix use her "Access" welfare card. Her back was covered in tattoos. RT if u support entitlement reform #sayfie
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) October 2, 2013
Responding to a 2015 bill he didnāt like by appearing to question the literacy of two black Florida state senators
This lawsuit reads like it was researched and drafted by Sen Joyner……and spell checked by Sen Bullard #sayfie
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) April 30, 2015
Defending Trumpās description of Haiti as a āshitholeā country in January 2018
āThe conditions in Haiti are deplorable, they are disgusting. I mean, everywhere you look in Haiti, itās sheet metal and garbage.ā
Joining 17 Republican colleagues to nominate Trump for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize
āSince taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons programs and bring peace to the region.ā
Tweeting after Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated by Saudi agents in Turkey in October 2018
āThe media is painting Khashoggi as a ājournalistā rather than a political participant. Donāt get me wrong, Iām 100% opposed to killing people for their politics, but IDK that this is journalism.ā
Imagining what might happen if a federal transgender rights bill were passed
āConsider this possibility: If President Trump were to say, āI am now the first female president,ā who would celebrate that?ā
Menacing tweet directed at Trump’s former lawyer before he testified before Congress
āHey @MichaelCohen212 ā Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if sheāll remain faithful when youāre in prison. Sheās about to learn a lot…ā
Responding to the House Ethics Committeeās announcement in June that it was investigating Gaetzās alleged threat against Cohen
āIf members of Congress want to spend their time psychoanalyzing my tweets, itās certainly their prerogative.ā