Matt Gaetz questions administration on Venezuela plans as newest White House press pool member

Ex-Florida Republican Matt Gaetz made an unexpected appearance at a Pentagon press briefing on Tuesday, just over a year after stepping aside from consideration for U.S. attorney general. Now a 43-year-old anchor for One America News Network (OANN), Gaetz was once a staunch MAGA ally of former President Donald Trump during his tenure in the House of Representatives. He was briefly nominated to lead the Justice Department in November 2024 but withdrew a week later amid concerns over past controversies that could have blocked his confirmation. The position was later filled by Pam Bondi.

Gaetz resigned from Congress to pursue the attorney general role and subsequently transitioned to a media career at OANN. His latest public appearance saw him attending a Department of Defense briefing alongside other conservative media figures like Laura Loomer, Jack Posobiec, and James OKeefe, who have gained access despite the Pentagons selective briefing policies.

At the briefing, Gaetz, wearing a black jacket marked Representative Matt Gaetz, questioned Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson regarding U.S. policy toward Venezuela under the Trump administration. He asked about the Department of Defenses potential role in a Venezuela without Nicols Maduro and how decisions would be made regarding the involvement of current Venezuelan officials or military members in a post-Maduro scenario.

Wilson replied: The department prepares for all contingencies. We are a planning organization ready to respond to global developments at the presidents direction. Our focus in the SOUTHCOM region remains on combating narco-terrorism, protecting the American people, and safeguarding the homeland. Every operation we conduct saves lives, and we remain committed to these missions.

In a follow-up, Gaetz asked if the administration would categorize all former Venezuelan officials or military personnel as narco-terrorists, similar to post-Saddam Hussein policies. Wilson clarified that such determinations are made by the president, but confirmed that individuals involved in drug trafficking to the U.S. are considered narco-terrorists based on intelligence.

Gaetzs past controversies continue to follow him. He has denied allegations of sexual misconduct, including claims that he paid a woman who alleged she was 17 and homeless. He maintained to The New York Times that these allegations were false and that no legal action was pursued because the claims were fictional. Additional scrutiny arose over financial transactions with multiple women, sometimes facilitated by his former associate Joel Greenberg, and the House Ethics Committees report last December found substantial evidence of violations related to conduct, gifts, and obstruction.

Gaetz stated that while he engaged in relationships and financial support to women during his 30s, he never had sexual contact with anyone underage. He described his earlier lifestyle as embarrassing but not criminal and emphasized that he has since changed his life. He later filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Ethics Committees report, arguing that the release of statements about him as a private citizen was unconstitutional, although similar actions have precedent.

Author: Logan Reeves