Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has a found an outlet for his sharp tongue and yearning for the limelight: far-right broadcaster One America News Network.
The former lawmaker from Florida’s Panhandle and MAGA provocateur will soon host his own hourlong political talk show on OAN, which heavily supports President-elect Donald Trump. OAN promoted the show in a series of graphics on Tuesday and called Gaetz a “powerhouse” in a release, describing the hire as a “mega MAGA investment” that will air weeknights at 9 p.m.
It is yet another high-profile, public platform for Gaetz, a firebrand Republican who made no shortage of enemies in the House before President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to nominate him to be attorney general. Gaetz immediately resigned from the House after Trump’s announcement, a move that also came just before the House Ethics Committee planned to meet regarding a probe into allegations against him regarding illegal drug use and sex with a 17-year-old.
Gaetz has consistently denied the allegations and a Department of Justice investigation into him resulted in no charges. But the accusations quickly dogged his confirmation process, prompting him to drop out of consideration one week after Trump first announced plans to nominate him. The early withdrawal precluded what would have been a deeply personal and brutal confirmation hearing.
At OAN, Gaetz will also co-host a video podcast with Dan Ball, host of “Real America with Dan Ball,” that the network said would feature “unfiltered conversations” for Gen Z, Millennials and early Gen Xers.
Gaetz praised the network in a statement for embracing platforms like streaming, apps, podcasts and social media, which he called places “where Americans are going.” Trump during his 2024 run similarly embraced alternative media sources to reach voters.
CNN first reported that Gaetz would be an OAN anchor. The network is among the outlets that pushed groundless stories about the 2020 election saying vote tallies in swing states were rigged against Trump. The stories resulted in now-settled lawsuits from voting technology companies Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems.
Plenty of questions swirled about what Gaetz would do next. The former Florida lawmaker didn’t do much to tamp down speculation that he might run for governor of Florida, including sharing a gif on X of the state flag in response to a suggestion that he might seek that office. In August 2023, Gaetz told Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancée, Kimberly Guilfoyle, that if ever elected to the governor’s mansion he would “definitely enjoy that job so much.”
“I would never leave it if I ever got that opportunity,” he said at the time.
Forbes also reported the recent formation of a political action committee that seemed tied to Gaetz, called Florida Firebrand PAC.
Gaetz frequently dragged congressional colleagues when he was in office and, in his highest-profile clash, led the ouster of then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Ever since dropping out, Gaetz has derided members of Congress who buy and sell stocks — something he tried to ban while in Congress — and voiced support for policies such as providing IVF to servicemembers.
He explicitly ruled out a return to his seat in Congress, which will be filled by a special election.
