Matt Gaetz

Matt Gaetz was born on May 7, 1982, in Hollywood, Florida, and grew up in the state’s northwest region. He attended Florida State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in 2003 and a Juris Doctor from William & Mary Law School in 2007. Gaetz started his legal career with the law firm Keefe, Anchors & Gordon in Fort Walton Beach, where he became known for advocating for government transparency and accountability.

Gaetz entered politics in 2010, winning a seat in the Florida House of Representatives for District 4. As a state legislator, he chaired the Finance and Tax Committee and the Criminal Justice Subcommittee, where he focused on implementing tax cuts and enhancing public safety laws. 

In 2016, Gaetz was elected to represent Florida’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. During his tenure, he served on the Budget, Armed Services, and Judiciary Committees, developing a reputation as a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies. Gaetz’s legislative efforts prioritized defense spending for military installations in his district, veteran support initiatives, and immigration reform. He also made headlines for his vocal opposition to certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, a stance that underscored his alignment with the more conservative faction of the Republican Party.

Gaetz’s career has been shadowed by several controversies, notably involving allegations of anti-Semitic rhetoric that have drawn consistent criticism from Jewish organizations.

In 2021, Gaetz’s connection to Joel Greenberg, a Jewish former Seminole County tax collector, attracted significant attention amid a Justice Department investigation into Gaetz for sex trafficking. Greenberg, who had been indicted on charges including stalking and sex trafficking, was a close associate of Gaetz. Although prosecutors ultimately decided not to pursue charges against Gaetz, the investigation overshadowed his political career. After his indictment, Greenberg resigned from his position as tax collector in 2020, further complicating Gaetz’s association with him. Gaetz denied involvement in Greenberg’s illegal activities, but the scrutiny of their relationship persisted.

His relationships with far-right figures and inflammatory statements have strained his standing with many in the Jewish community. In 2018, Gaetz invited Charles C. Johnson, a right-wing figure who has denied the Holocaust, as his guest to the State of the Union, prompting the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to voice concern over Gaetz’s apparent disregard for Johnson’s controversial views. In response, Gaetz apologized for inviting him but denied Johnson was a Holocaust denier. In 2021, Gaetz described the ADL as “racist” after the organization urged Fox News to fire Tucker Carlson over comments promoting the “Great Replacement Theory,” a conspiracy linked to anti-Semitic violence.

In November 2023, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Gaetz questioned Pamela Nadell, the director of the Jewish Studies program at American University, about whether criticizing Jewish philanthropist and Holocaust survivor George Soros could be seen as anti-Semitic. Gaetz had previously accused Soros of funding the migrant caravan, a claim that became a focal point in the 2018 midterm elections. This came just days before a man, influenced by the migrant caravan rhetoric, carried out a deadly attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue, killing 11 Jews.

Further scrutiny followed in 2023 when Gaetz voted against the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which aimed to address anti-Semitism on college campuses. He justified his vote by invoking the centuries-old trope that “Jews killed Jesus,” arguing that the legislation’s definition of anti-Semitism could include criticism of religious texts. Gaetz’s stance sparked condemnation from Jewish leaders, including ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, who stated that Gaetz’s “history of trafficking in anti-Semitism” disqualified him from any high office. Other Jewish groups similarly condemned Gaetz’s rhetoric as concerning.

On November 13, 2024, Gaetz resigned from Congress following President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of him as the next U.S. Attorney General. 

On November 21, 2024, Gaetz withdrew his nomination as Attorney General. It was reported that President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Gaetz faced strong opposition in the Senate. After Trump was informed that Gaetz lacked the votes for confirmation, Gaetz withdrew his nomination, citing the distraction it was causing the administration. The decision came amid bipartisan pressure and an ethics investigation into Gaetz, including allegations of sexual misconduct.

Gaetz is married and has a son.

Sources: “About,” gaetz.house.gov.
“Matt Gaetz,” Ballotpedia.
@realDonaldTrump, (November 13, 2024).
Jacob Kornbluh, “Trump AG nominee Matt Gaetz has left a trail of antisemitic comments,” Forward, (November 13, 2024).
Ben Samuels, “Matt Gaetz, Trump’s AG Nominee, Has a History of Clashes With U.S. Jewish Establishment Over Antisemitism,” Haaretz, (November 13, 2024).
Jacob Gurvits, “Trump picks Matt Gaetz, who called ADL ‘racist’ and invited Holocaust denier to SOTU, for attorney general,” JTA, (November 13, 2024). 
Eric Bradner, Kristen Holmes, Alayna Treene, Lauren Fox, Sarah Ferris, Annie Grayer, “Gaetz withdraws from attorney general consideration after Trump told him he didn’t have the votes in the Senate,” CNN, (November 21, 2024).

Photo: Ike Hayman, U.S. House Office of Photography/House Creative Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.