Rep. Matt Gaetz says he wants the House to be reshaped in his image

Rep. Matt Gaetz says he wants the House to be just like him and envisions his colleagues joining him to “end the wars, shut the border, reduce the spending.”

“I’m trying to reshape the House in my image,” Mr. Gaetz said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal released Sunday.

Mr. Gaetz, a Republican who has held his seat in Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2021, is known as a firebrand. He was the driving force behind the ouster of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, California Republican, in October. 

He is outspoken on issues such as the southern border and the budget, and fiercely opposed additional aid for Ukraine in its war with Russia. He is a staunch advocate for guns and has called for the abolishment of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

Mr. Gaetz has also been one of Speaker Mike Johnson’s harshest critics. He has Mr. Johnson has been disappointing, as well as his pushes for single-subject spending bills.

“I like Mike personally, and it’s been very painful to be so disappointed,” Mr. Gaetz said of the Louisiana Republican.

Asked if he would seek to succeed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Mr. Gaetz said no.

“I am singularly focused on what the House of Representatives will look like and ensuring that Donald Trump is elected president,” he said.

Mr. Gaetz faces a primary election in August. His challenger, Aaron Dimmick, has the backing of Mr. McCarthy, who is seeking retribution against those who ousted him.

Mr. Gaetz also faces a probe by the House Ethics Committee over accusations of sexual misconduct, bribes, illicit drug use and sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor.

The investigation was first launched in May 2021, but was put on hold after the Justice Department said it wanted to get involved. The committee reopened its investigation last year after the DOJ backed out.

Mr. McCarthy said earlier this year that he believes Mr. Gaetz had a vendetta against him because of the investigation.

The ethics panel said last week it is now looking into two more allegations against Mr. Gaetz, including whether he gave special privileges and favors to people he had a personal relationship with, and that he “sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct.”