Speculation continues as to whether Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz will run for governor in 2026, and former President Donald Trump is helping fuel the discussion.
In an interview posted Wednesday with National Pulse chief editor Raheem Kassam, Trump responded with effusive praise for Gaetz when asked about the prospect of the Fort Walton Beach congressman running to succeed current Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“Well, he’s a great guy,” Trump responded. “I mean, he’s great. He’s a wonderful person. He’s strong. He went through hell for two years over something that I never believed for a second, and he held up very strong. He was very strong.”
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“A lot of guys can’t hold up to that. They put themselves in a corner, put their thumb in their mouth, and they say, ‘Mama, take me home, get me out of here,’” added Trump. “And Matt was strong.”
Trump was referring to the Biden administration’s probe of sex-trafficking allegations made against Gaetz.
As the Tampa Free Press reported earlier this year, the Justice Department ended the investigation into whether Gaetz procured underage women for sex and lured them across state lines when no credible evidence emerged.
“Now, what he goes through, I go through times 10, but it’s OK because I see the love, I see the people, I see what we’re doing,” Trump continued. “I know we’re right. It’s a scam. It’s another scam. It’s Russia-Russia-Russia all over again.”
“I think Matt is a very talented guy,” Trump concluded.
In response, Gaetz said on X (formerly Twitter): “We get our strength from you, Mr. President. Thank you for the kind words.”
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