Trump sycophant Gaetz reportedly mulling leaving Florida House seat to join far-right media outlet

Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz

Axios’ Alayna Treene reported Tuesday that Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who remains a leading Trump bootlicker, “has privately told confidants” he’s thinking about retiring from his safely red seat, or possibly even resigning, in order to take a gig at the far-right Newsmax. The Florida congressman, who is usually quick to dismiss any information he doesn’t like as “fake news,” did not initially respond to media inquiries about his future.

Gaetz wouldn’t be the first member of the GOP caucus to bolt in order to join a pro-Trump outlet: In 2017, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced his resignation from Congress shortly before he became a Fox contributor. However, this wouldn’t be the first time that Gaetz has eyed an escape from his Pensacola-area House seat only to stay put.

In 2019, The Hill reported that Gaetz was telling his colleagues that he was thinking about launching a Senate bid in Alabama, and he didn’t initially rule out the idea when asked. The very next day, though, when a reporter from the Pensacola News Journal asked him if he’d be seeking office across state lines, Gaetz responded with a clear, “No.”

Gaetz went on to easily secure a third term in Florida’s 1st District, but he began talking about leaving it again earlier this year. In January, the congressman said that he “would consider running" for state Agriculture Commissioner, a post currently held by Democrat Nikki Fried. We haven’t heard anything about that idea over the following two months, though, and Gaetz seems to have more again turned his attention elsewhere.