Gaetz says focus on Trump’s reelection
WASHINGTON — He recently starred in an HBO documentary, backed candidates in Florida primaries that beat the GOP leadership’s picks and used his signature snark to draw a contrast between President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden on the opening night of the Republican National Convention.
But U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., does not see the national profile he’s building as a steppingstone to higher office or a shot at the House Republican leadership, he told CQ Roll Call in an interview Tuesday.
Rather, he said his political moves are aimed at one thing: helping Trump win a second term.
That includes picking favorites in Florida congressional primaries. Gaetz endorsed Scott Franklin, a Lakeland city commissioner, who ousted Rep. Ross Spano in last week’s primary for the 15th District. He also backed conservative media personality and Air Force veteran Anna Paulina Luna, who won the 13th District primary to take on Democratic Rep. Charlie Crist, a former governor.
“Republican primary voters watching Fox News, they see Matt on TV at night; that’s a trusted person they know. If he is doing a phone call on behalf of someone, they are certainly going to take a look,” said David Johnson, a Republican consultant in Florida and former executive director of the state GOP.
Gaetz said he got involved in the races because of Trump, not because he’s looking to be a player in congressional races.
“My only ambition politically in 2020 is to reelect the president,” he said. “There were a couple circumstances where candidates would be better for the sake of reelecting the president in a swing state.”
“I’m going to rally the base in the Sunshine State. We’re going to turn them out and provide the president a big victory,” he said, noting he plans to do that “by speaking the truth as clearly as I can, as often as I can, as directly as I can.”
Gaetz’s eagerness to boost Trump to victory is probably why he was picked to speak on the convention’s opening night.
A fisherman on trade: A Maine lobster fisher spoke in favor of President Donald Trump’s trade policies during the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, earning a rebuke from the state’s Democratic party, which faults Trump for hurting the industry.
Swan Island lobster harvester Jason Joyce said he was skeptical of Trump in 2016 and didn’t support him then, but has since come around because of the president’s trade deals. He referenced last week’s announcement that the European Union agreed to drop its 8% tariff on U.S. lobsters for the next five years. The EU has also agreed to work to make the move permanent.
“As long as Trump is president, fishing families like mine will have a voice,” Joyce said.
Maine Democrats said before Joyce’s speech on Tuesday that Trump has done more to hurt the lobster fishery than aid it.
Thursday: Scheduled speakers include HUD Secretary Ben Carson, the Rev. Franklin Graham, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy and President Donald Trump.