Trump Supporters Urge Gaetz: "Don't back down"
The ex-Congress member has suggested the possibility of pursuing elected office in the future. His supporters are encouraging him to take action.
TroibNews 
The recent release of a House ethics report alleging that former Rep. Matt Gaetz had sexual relations with a minor complicates his potential return to elected office. Despite this, several allies of President-elect Donald Trump have encouraged him to continue his political aspirations.
“Gaetz has to come back,” Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, stated on his “War Room” podcast. “Gaetz must return like Trump returned. Don’t back down — double down.”
Gaetz has denied the allegations detailed in the 37-page ethics report, which also includes claims of illegal drug use and soliciting prostitutes. A prior investigation by the Department of Justice did not result in any charges against him.
Concerns stemming from the ethics report caused Gaetz to withdraw from consideration for the attorney general position under Trump, shortly after he resigned from Congress.
In recent weeks, Gaetz has hinted at ambitions to run for governor of Florida, a Senate seat, or even a return to the House. Supporters, including state Sen. Joe Gruters, who received Trump’s endorsement for Republican National Committee treasurer, maintain that Gaetz still has a viable path back to public office.
“Matt Gaetz was fully cleared by a highly partisan DOJ, and the release of this report serves no purpose other than to attempt to damage his reputation by those with personal or political grievances against him,” Gruters remarked. “The public can see through these tactics, and Matt Gaetz continues to have a bright future in elected office or any other path he chooses to pursue.”
When questioned about Gaetz’s political future, Florida-based Republican operative Jamie Miller highlighted the lack of DOJ charges and noted that the new report places the situation in the “court of public opinion.”
“There doesn't seem to be new information in this report that hasn't been previously leaked,” he observed. “The question becomes, does the public believe that these were youthful transgressions or do they see them as character flaws?”
A representative for the Trump transition office did not immediately comment on potential roles for Gaetz in the incoming administration.
Starting in January, Gaetz will anchor his own primetime show on One America News Network. Additionally, prominent trial attorney John Morgan indicated to PMG that he and Gaetz have discussed a possible collaboration at his firm, Morgan & Morgan.
Morgan expressed indifference to the ethics report's implications, stating he was unsure about the truth of the drug use allegations but pointed out that “many people” have used drugs. He added that “if we start making people guilty based on rumors and vendetta then we are not who we are supposed to be.”
Morgan further suggested that Gaetz could feasibly run for governor of Florida when Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited in 2026, considering Gaetz's potential to secure a plurality in a Republican primary.
Having never faced a significant challenge in his overwhelmingly Republican district, Gaetz's past efforts to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker led to McCarthy backing a GOP challenger in the upcoming 2024 cycle as a form of retaliation.
A Florida Republican lobbyist, who spoke anonymously, noted that Gaetz’s exit from the attorney general candidacy was potentially more damaging to his future than the ethics report, suggesting that Gaetz could have framed the latter as a move by McCarthy’s establishment. However, Trump had not indicated a willingness to support Gaetz's confirmation as attorney general.
The lobbyist did not dismiss the possibility that Gaetz’s political career could be over, citing Trump’s history of overcoming legal issues.
“In the age of populism anything is possible,” the source remarked.
Republican campaign consultant David Custin echoed that Gaetz could still make a comeback in politics.
“If the past decade in Florida and USA politics have taught us anything, it’s that you can't merely dismiss someone's political future based on accusations of wrongdoing,” he stated. “Rep. Gaetz is innocent until proven guilty. His high IQ, political strengths and talent mean that his political future isn't limited.”
Gaetz recently suggested he could return to Congress briefly, considering a special election to fill his former seat is scheduled for April 1. He indicated on X last week that he might seek to expose all “Me Too” settlements paid with public funds by current and former members before resigning to join OAN.
Throughout Monday, Gaetz posted on X, appearing to challenge various allegations, including financial gifts to women being construed as prostitution.
“There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses,” he wrote.
During remarks at Turning Point’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Gaetz hinted at his political aspirations but acknowledged potential hurdles regarding his attorney general nomination.
"Floridians have asked me to eye the governor's mansion in Tallahassee, maybe special counsel to go after the insider trading for my former colleagues in Congress,” he suggested. “It seems I may not have had enough support in the United States Senate. Maybe I'll just run for Marco Rubio's vacant seat in the United States Senate and join some of those folks.”
“But for the moment, I'll enjoy being one of you,” Gaetz quipped to the audience.
Rubio's seat will become vacant in 2026 as he is expected to be confirmed as secretary of state. Early next year, DeSantis will appoint someone to fill the position temporarily, and that person may subsequently compete for the seat as an incumbent.
As of now, no candidates have declared their intentions for the 2026 gubernatorial race in Florida. Trump has yet to comment on the prospective race, but his endorsement would likely hold considerable influence, similar to his support for DeSantis in the 2018 Republican primary.
Some Florida Democrats are openly hoping for Gaetz to run for the governorship in 2026, believing it would present them with an opportunity in a state that has shifted heavily toward Republicans and Trump in recent election cycles.
"The findings from the House Ethics Committee report confirm that Matt Gaetz belongs nowhere near the halls of Congress or in any other elected office,” asserted Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, who was once friends with Gaetz during her time as a marijuana lobbyist. “The truth always comes out in the end.”
Olivia Beavers contributed to this report.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
“Gaetz has to come back,” Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, stated on his “War Room” podcast. “Gaetz must return like Trump returned. Don’t back down — double down.”
Gaetz has denied the allegations detailed in the 37-page ethics report, which also includes claims of illegal drug use and soliciting prostitutes. A prior investigation by the Department of Justice did not result in any charges against him.
Concerns stemming from the ethics report caused Gaetz to withdraw from consideration for the attorney general position under Trump, shortly after he resigned from Congress.
In recent weeks, Gaetz has hinted at ambitions to run for governor of Florida, a Senate seat, or even a return to the House. Supporters, including state Sen. Joe Gruters, who received Trump’s endorsement for Republican National Committee treasurer, maintain that Gaetz still has a viable path back to public office.
“Matt Gaetz was fully cleared by a highly partisan DOJ, and the release of this report serves no purpose other than to attempt to damage his reputation by those with personal or political grievances against him,” Gruters remarked. “The public can see through these tactics, and Matt Gaetz continues to have a bright future in elected office or any other path he chooses to pursue.”
When questioned about Gaetz’s political future, Florida-based Republican operative Jamie Miller highlighted the lack of DOJ charges and noted that the new report places the situation in the “court of public opinion.”
“There doesn't seem to be new information in this report that hasn't been previously leaked,” he observed. “The question becomes, does the public believe that these were youthful transgressions or do they see them as character flaws?”
A representative for the Trump transition office did not immediately comment on potential roles for Gaetz in the incoming administration.
Starting in January, Gaetz will anchor his own primetime show on One America News Network. Additionally, prominent trial attorney John Morgan indicated to PMG that he and Gaetz have discussed a possible collaboration at his firm, Morgan & Morgan.
Morgan expressed indifference to the ethics report's implications, stating he was unsure about the truth of the drug use allegations but pointed out that “many people” have used drugs. He added that “if we start making people guilty based on rumors and vendetta then we are not who we are supposed to be.”
Morgan further suggested that Gaetz could feasibly run for governor of Florida when Gov. Ron DeSantis is term-limited in 2026, considering Gaetz's potential to secure a plurality in a Republican primary.
Having never faced a significant challenge in his overwhelmingly Republican district, Gaetz's past efforts to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker led to McCarthy backing a GOP challenger in the upcoming 2024 cycle as a form of retaliation.
A Florida Republican lobbyist, who spoke anonymously, noted that Gaetz’s exit from the attorney general candidacy was potentially more damaging to his future than the ethics report, suggesting that Gaetz could have framed the latter as a move by McCarthy’s establishment. However, Trump had not indicated a willingness to support Gaetz's confirmation as attorney general.
The lobbyist did not dismiss the possibility that Gaetz’s political career could be over, citing Trump’s history of overcoming legal issues.
“In the age of populism anything is possible,” the source remarked.
Republican campaign consultant David Custin echoed that Gaetz could still make a comeback in politics.
“If the past decade in Florida and USA politics have taught us anything, it’s that you can't merely dismiss someone's political future based on accusations of wrongdoing,” he stated. “Rep. Gaetz is innocent until proven guilty. His high IQ, political strengths and talent mean that his political future isn't limited.”
Gaetz recently suggested he could return to Congress briefly, considering a special election to fill his former seat is scheduled for April 1. He indicated on X last week that he might seek to expose all “Me Too” settlements paid with public funds by current and former members before resigning to join OAN.
Throughout Monday, Gaetz posted on X, appearing to challenge various allegations, including financial gifts to women being construed as prostitution.
“There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses,” he wrote.
During remarks at Turning Point’s AmericaFest in Phoenix, Gaetz hinted at his political aspirations but acknowledged potential hurdles regarding his attorney general nomination.
"Floridians have asked me to eye the governor's mansion in Tallahassee, maybe special counsel to go after the insider trading for my former colleagues in Congress,” he suggested. “It seems I may not have had enough support in the United States Senate. Maybe I'll just run for Marco Rubio's vacant seat in the United States Senate and join some of those folks.”
“But for the moment, I'll enjoy being one of you,” Gaetz quipped to the audience.
Rubio's seat will become vacant in 2026 as he is expected to be confirmed as secretary of state. Early next year, DeSantis will appoint someone to fill the position temporarily, and that person may subsequently compete for the seat as an incumbent.
As of now, no candidates have declared their intentions for the 2026 gubernatorial race in Florida. Trump has yet to comment on the prospective race, but his endorsement would likely hold considerable influence, similar to his support for DeSantis in the 2018 Republican primary.
Some Florida Democrats are openly hoping for Gaetz to run for the governorship in 2026, believing it would present them with an opportunity in a state that has shifted heavily toward Republicans and Trump in recent election cycles.
"The findings from the House Ethics Committee report confirm that Matt Gaetz belongs nowhere near the halls of Congress or in any other elected office,” asserted Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, who was once friends with Gaetz during her time as a marijuana lobbyist. “The truth always comes out in the end.”
Olivia Beavers contributed to this report.
Mathilde Moreau contributed to this report for TROIB News
