OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has provided new details about his plans after leaving Congress and withdrawing from President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination to be U.S. attorney general.
In an interview with Turning Point USA founder and conservative all-star Charlie Kirk, the Florida Republican indicated that he planned to remain active politically.
“So — so Matt, I now have to ask about just what your plans are, and it’s OK if you have to punt on it because you might not know. It’s important to know you resigned from this Congress, not the next Congress. Our audience is 100 percent behind Matt Gaetz, by the way. They are very, very upset that you were not able to get all the way to Attorney General. I have to ask, what is next for Matt Gaetz?” Kirk asked during his talk show last week.
“I’m still going to be in the fight, but it’s going to be from a new perch. I do not intend to join the 119th Congress. There are a number of fantastic Floridians who’ve stepped up to run for my seat, people who have inspired with their heroism, with their public service, and I’m actually excited to see northwest Florida go to new heights and have great representation,” Gaetz began.
“Charlie, I’ve been in an elected office for 14 years. I first got elected to the State House when I was 26 years old, and I’m 42 now, and I’ve got some other goals in life that I’m eager to pursue with my wife and my family, and so I’m going to be fighting for President Trump,” he continued. “I’m going to be doing whatever he asks of me, as I always have, but I think that 8 years is probably enough time in the United States Congress.
The ‘Firebrand’ conservative then got somewhat introspective regarding his life so far and his future plans.
“You know, in Florida, our voters got to vote on term limits for state government, and the campaign was, 8 is enough. And so you can only do 8 years in the Florida House of Representatives, and so it seems like a pretty poetic time to allow that great new blood to come in, to allow my district to have high-quality representation,” he said.
“And don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m not taking off for a tropical excursion for the rest of my life. I am here to help save this country. And one thing you know, the great patriots at ‘Turning Point’ know, we need people at every level,” he continue. “We need brilliant lawyers on the outside. We need tough congressmen and congresswomen on the inside. We need a leadership structure under President Trump that’s going to allow for durability of our movement and — and the ability to continue this great realignment of our politics.”
He concluded: “And so I’ll play a part in that. I plan to be a big voice, but maybe not as — as an elected member of the government.”
WATCH:
Gaetz had a frank phone call with Trump about his chances for being confirmed as attorney general, a report revealed on Friday.
Insiders said his “charm offensive” with the Senate last week to win support went well, but then things fell apart when it became apparent that he would not be able to be confirmed, The Daily Mail reported.
“At best this was going to be complicated and drag on into February, March,” a source said exclusively to Then Mail. “And a strong A.G. is central to everything Trump wants to get started on on day one … immigration, overhauling the D.O.J. …”
On the phone call, the president-elect explained the reality to him but did not push him to step aside, the report said.
After both Trump and Gaetz had worked to secure votes, it was apparent that he was still short.
