In a sprawling and contentious interview, former Republican congressman Matt Gaetz set the record straight on his relationship with progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, while levelling serious new allegations against a foreign government.
Gaetz Dismisses Dating Rumours and Recalls Pre-January 6th Camaraderie
Speaking to fired Fox News host Tucker Carlson on his new primetime show on the far-right One America News network, Gaetz was directly questioned about whether he had ever attempted a romantic pursuit of Representative Ocasio-Cortez. The Florida politician, who now hosts his own programme on OAN, was unequivocal in his denial. "I did not, no," Gaetz proclaimed, adding, "Not my cup of tea."
However, Gaetz painted a picture of a previously collegial relationship that he claims soured after the attack on the US Capitol. "Before January 6th, she was incredibly chummy with Republicans in Congress, would regularly come over to our side, sit down, hang out, talk about her day," he told Carlson. He asserted that her demeanour changed drastically following the insurrection, stating, "she, after January 6th, treated us all like we had horns or something."
Carlson, a prominent voice in Republican efforts to reframe the events of January 6, mocked Ocasio-Cortez's stated fear for her life during the riot, exclaiming, "You can't be in charge of anything if you're a terrified little girl." Gaetz characterised her reaction as "bad performance art," but surprisingly predicted she could mount a "compelling run" for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
Claims of Backroom Praise for McCarthy Ouster
Gaetz further alleged that Ocasio-Cortez privately praised his successful 2023 effort to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. He claimed she told him, "You know, I really respect this because I'll be honest. We don't have the guts to do this on our side." This purported endorsement from across the aisle highlights the complex and often unseen dynamics within the US House of Representatives.
The conversation then turned to the perceived leadership of the Democratic Party, with Carlson labelling Senator Bernie Sanders a "f***ing coward" and suggesting Ocasio-Cortez was "the same thing." Gaetz concurred that "AOC is a very different person today than when she got to Congress," a point Carlson seized upon to accuse her of being "totally corrupted."
Explosive Allegations Against Israel and Feud with Laura Loomer
Beyond the discussion of Ocasio-Cortez, the interview took a darker turn with Gaetz making incendiary claims about the Israeli government. He asserted that an Israeli government agent was involved in a plot to extort him and his family, stating, "It was an op to silence me, and Israel was involved." Gaetz, who has aligned with "America First" conservatives critical of Israel's actions in Gaza, added controversially, "antisemitism used to mean somebody who didn't like Jews – now it just means somebody Jews don't like."
These remarks ignited a fresh feud with pro-Trump activist Laura Loomer, a self-described "proud Islamophobe" and Zionist. She accused Carlson of attempting "a hostile takeover of the GOP to destroy MAGA & redefine the GOP into modern-day Hitler youth with a drizzle of Sharia Law on top," referencing his previous interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
A History of Controversial Appearances
The lengthy podcast conversation comes several years after a notorious 2021 interview that Carlson himself called "one of the weirdest" of his career. That appearance occurred when Gaetz was under federal investigation for an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, a charge he has consistently denied. During that 2021 exchange, Gaetz made claims about a mutual friend being threatened by the FBI, which a visibly confused Carlson said he did not recall.
Following that interview, Gaetz was effectively blacklisted from Fox News for a year. He returned to Carlson's show exactly 365 days later to maintain his innocence. Ultimately, while Gaetz's associate Joel Greenberg pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a minor and other charges, receiving an 11-year prison sentence, the Justice Department declined to prosecute Gaetz himself.
Gaetz's move to OAN followed the collapse of his potential nomination as Trump's attorney general, which faltered amid renewed scrutiny of the misconduct allegations.
