Politico has issued its annual Power List, showcasing 19 people who are positioned to play a “critical role” in the political landscape as the presidential election approaches.
“Rep. Matt Gaetz isn’t disappearing from your TV screens anytime soon. The controversial Florida Republican and ardent Donald Trump supporter, who just won re-election, will continue making his plea to protect the president on any news channel that will have him in 2019,” Politico said in its write-up of Mr. Gaetz — who is featured along with Drew Hammill, deputy chief of staff for House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; Justin Clark, senior political adviser for the Trump re-election campaign; and Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib, Michigan Democrat.
The news organization has a forecast for Mr. Gaetz.
“With Democrats holding the House majority, he thinks it’s only a matter of time until House Democrats try to impeach the president. And Gaetz will be there to defend him,” said the Politico rationale.
The lawmaker is indeed candid about his support for Mr. Trump, and the legal challenges he currently faces.
“He needs a capable defense on the Judiciary Committee to show what a witch hunt this truly is. I feel a real sense of obligation to provide that defense,” Mr. Gaetz told Politico.
“House Democrats have said they will not try to impeach Trump and will, instead, wait for special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe to be completed before determining whether any action should be taken,” Politico noted, adding that Mr. Gaetz believes the lawmakers will “succumb to pressure” to impeach the president from MSNBC primetime host Rachel Maddow and other broadcasters.
Mr. Gaetz will counter the trend, taking his defense of the president to the airways, directly to voters.
“If they are anywhere near a television, they will be watching me over the course of the next year because I intend to be making the president’s argument, forcefully, frequently and in the mediums that are consumed by the American people,” he told Politico.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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