Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Matt Gaetz
Discover the career path of Matt Gaetz, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Matt Gaetz is an American politician and lawyer. He served as the U.S. representative for Florida's 1st congressional district from 2017 until he resigned in 2024. A Republican and self-described libertarian populist, Gaetz is considered a proponent of far-right politics and a strong ally of Donald Trump. Notably, in October 2023, he initiated a motion to vacate, which resulted in Kevin McCarthy's removal as speaker of the House.
February 6, 2008: Admitted to the Florida Bar
On February 6, 2008, Matt Gaetz was admitted to the Florida Bar.
February 2010: Ray Sansom's Resignation
In February 2010, Republican state representative Ray Sansom resigned on corruption charges.
March 2010: Runs in Special Election
In March 2010, Matt Gaetz ran in the special election to succeed Ray Sansom in the 4th district, which included southern Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County.
2010: Elected to Florida House of Representatives
In 2010, Matt Gaetz was elected to the Florida House of Representatives.
2010: Unopposed Full Term
Matt Gaetz was unopposed for a full term in 2010.
May 2013: Legislation to Eliminate Ethanol Content Mandate
In May 2013, legislation to eliminate the federal ethanol content mandate that 10 percent of gasoline sold in Florida contain ethanol, was signed by Governor Rick Scott.
2013: Announced Run for State Senate Seat
In 2013, Matt Gaetz announced that, in 2016, he would run for the 1st district State Senate seat held by his father, Don Gaetz.
2015: Supported Jeb Bush Presidential Campaign
In 2015, Matt Gaetz supported the presidential campaign of Jeb Bush.
2015: Voted Against Revenge Porn Bill
In 2015, Matt Gaetz was one of two members to vote against a Florida bill which criminalized revenge porn, due to "personal animosity".
2015: Commented on Supreme Court's Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
In 2015, after the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision, Gaetz expressed his disagreement with the ruling, stating that each state should decide on same-sex marriage and arguing it was an example of "judicial activism."
2015: Sponsored Amendment to Repeal State Ban on Same-Sex Adoptions
In 2015, as a Florida state representative, Gaetz co-sponsored an amendment to repeal the state ban on same-sex adoptions and persuaded his father to support the repeal in the Florida State Senate.
March 2016: Pirozzolo Donates to Gaetz's Campaign
In March 2016, Jason Pirozzolo, who allegedly paid for Matt Gaetz's trip to the Bahamas in September 2018, gave a $1,000 donation to Gaetz's campaign arm, "Friends of Matt Gaetz".
March 21, 2016: Withdrawal from State Senate Race
On March 21, 2016, Matt Gaetz withdrew from the race, choosing instead to run for the U.S. House seat representing Florida's 1st congressional district.
August 30, 2016: Won Republican Primary
On August 30, 2016, Matt Gaetz won the Republican primary with 35.7 percent of the vote.
2016: Gaetz Shouts Slogan
At the meeting during his town hall in February 23, 2017, Matt Gaetz closed his town hall by shouting Trump's 2016 campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again".
2016: Campaign Promises
During his 2016 congressional campaign, Matt Gaetz promised to "kill Muslim terrorists and build the wall".
2016: Proposed Bill to Benefit Jeb Bush
In 2016, Bush emailed Gaetz about introducing a bill to change the 2016 Florida Republican presidential primary to an earlier date in order to benefit Bush, Florida's former governor.
2016: Elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2016, Matt Gaetz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2016: Financial Disclosure and Campaign Donations
In 2016, Matt Gaetz's financial disclosure form showed a net worth of $388,000, and he donated $200,000 of his own money to his congressional campaign. He also resigned from two Florida House political action committees.
January 2017: Proposed Abolition of EPA
In January 2017, Matt Gaetz proposed legislation to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), arguing it hurt small businesses due to compliance costs.
February 23, 2017: Nonverbal Town Hall
On February 23, 2017, Matt Gaetz prepared a nonverbal town hall due to concerns about protesters disrupting his appearance.
May 2017: Pirozzolo's Second Donation to Gaetz's Campaign
In May 2017, Jason Pirozzolo gave a second donation of $1,000 to Matt Gaetz's campaign arm, "Friends of Matt Gaetz". In September 2018, Pirozzolo allegedly paid for Gaetz's trip to the Bahamas.
June 2017: Member of Republican Main Street Partnership
Matt Gaetz was listed as a member of the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership from at least January to June 2017.
September 2017: Keynotes Marijuana Conference
In September 2017, Matt Gaetz keynoted the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association's annual conference.
October 12, 2017: Introduced Resolution on Jewish Connection to Jerusalem
On October 12, 2017, Matt Gaetz introduced a resolution affirming the connection between the Jewish people and Jerusalem and condemning UNESCO's efforts to the contrary.
October 2017: Argued Medicaid Expansion Fueled Opioid Crisis
In October 2017, Gaetz argued that the Medicaid expansion permitted by the Affordable Care Act fueled the opioid crisis. PolitiFact rated this claim "mostly false."
November 2017: Joined Climate Solutions Caucus
In November 2017, Gaetz joined the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. He advocated for technological innovation, economic incentives to address climate change, and increased federal funds for global warming research.
November 2017: Called for Mueller to Recuse Himself
In November 2017, Matt Gaetz introduced a congressional resolution calling for Robert Mueller to recuse himself as special counsel.
December 2017: Supported Recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's Capital
In December 2017, Gaetz supported Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, stating that the move would pressure Palestine to recognize Israel.
December 19, 2017: Voted Against Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act
On December 19, 2017, Gaetz was the only representative to vote against the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act. He explained his vote was based on his small government principles.
2017: Ball and Murphy Start Working for Gaetz
Luke Ball and Devin Murphy both began working for Matt Gaetz when he joined Congress in 2017. They would later resign on April 2, 2021.
January 2018: Defended Trump's Comments on Haiti and African Nations
In January 2018, Gaetz defended a statement by Trump that reportedly called Haiti and African nations "shithole" countries. He described Haiti's condition as covered by "sheet metal and garbage" and in "disgusting" condition.
February 27, 2018: Voted Against Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act
On February 27, 2018, Gaetz voted against the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act.
May 2018: Nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize
In May 2018, Matt Gaetz was one of 18 House Republicans to vote to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in peace talks with North Korea.
October 2018: Falsely Claimed George Soros Paid for Migrant Caravan
In October 2018, Gaetz falsely stated that George Soros paid for a caravan of migrants from Central America to the United States.
2018: Campaign Adviser to Ron DeSantis
In 2018, Matt Gaetz served as a top campaign adviser to Ron DeSantis during his gubernatorial campaign.
2018: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2018, Matt Gaetz was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
April 2019: Hired Darren Beattie as Speechwriter
In April 2019, Matt Gaetz hired Darren Beattie as a speechwriter. Beattie had previously been fired as a speechwriter for the Trump administration after attending a conference associated with white nationalists.
April 2019: Signed Letter on Yemen Intervention
In April 2019, after the House passed a resolution on American support in Yemen, Gaetz was one of nine lawmakers who signed a letter to Trump, requesting a meeting and urging him to sign Senate Joint Resolution 7 to end unauthorized US military participation in the Saudi-led coalition's armed conflict against Houthi forces in Yemen.
July 24, 2019: Questioned Mueller
On July 24, 2019, Matt Gaetz questioned Robert Mueller during Mueller's testimony to two congressional committees.
August 2019: Florida Bar Finds No Probable Cause
In August 2019, The Florida Bar announced it had found no probable cause that Gaetz had violated its rules regarding his tweet about Michael Cohen.
October 2019: Not Allowed in Deposition
In October 2019, Matt Gaetz was not allowed to join lawmakers' closed-door deposition of Fiona Hill.
November 2019: Voted for the MORE Act
In November 2019, Matt Gaetz was one of only two Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee to vote for the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act.
February 2020: Stopped Accepting PAC Contributions
In February 2020, Matt Gaetz announced that he would no longer accept campaign contributions from federal political action committees.
February 2020: Supported Pardon for Roger Stone
In February 2020, Matt Gaetz said he would support a pardon for Roger Stone.
June 1, 2020: Tweeted About Antifa During George Floyd Protests
On June 1, 2020, during the George Floyd protests, Gaetz tweeted a controversial statement about Antifa, which was flagged by Twitter for glorifying violence. He defended his statement and criticized Twitter's action.
August 26, 2020: Tweeted Support for Kyle Rittenhouse
On August 26, 2020, Gaetz tweeted in support of Kyle Rittenhouse, who was involved in a shooting during the Jacob Blake protests. Gaetz was one of three representatives to offer Rittenhouse a Congressional internship.
November 2020: Gaetz Argues for Pardons
In November 2020, Matt Gaetz argued on Fox News that Trump "should pardon Michael Flynn [and] everyone from himself to his administration officials to Joe Exotic".
2020: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2020, Matt Gaetz was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
March 31, 2021: McCarthy Declines to Remove Gaetz from Committees
On March 31, 2021, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy stated he had no plans to remove Matt Gaetz from his seats on the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees unless Gaetz was indicted or the allegations against him were proven true.
May 7, 2021: "America First Tour" Started
On May 7, 2021, Matt Gaetz and Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene began a nationwide "America First Tour" in The Villages, Florida.
May 2021: Made Controversial Second Amendment Comments at Rally
In May 2021, during an "America First" rally, Gaetz made controversial remarks about the Second Amendment, suggesting the need for armed rebellion against the government if necessary. This led to accusations of inciting violence, which Gaetz denied.
June 10, 2021: Commented on COVID-19 Origins after House Committee Hearing
Following a House committee hearing on June 10, 2021, Gaetz claimed that a Chinese whistle-blower possessed information about COVID-19's origins that US investigators had ignored.
June 2021: Introduced Digital Health Pass Prevention Act
In June 2021, Gaetz introduced the Digital Health Pass Prevention Act (DHPPA), aiming to prevent federal funding for digital passes associated with COVID-19 vaccination status.
June 2021: Voted to Repeal Military Force Authorization Against Iraq
In June 2021, Gaetz was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.
June 23, 2021: Tweeted About Defunding the FBI
On June 23, 2021, Gaetz tweeted that the FBI should be defunded, while under investigation for alleged sex trafficking and having sex with a minor. He later deleted the tweet. As of 2024, there is still no evidence for such a claim.
August 2021: Cosponsored Mayorkas Impeachment Resolution
In August 2021, Matt Gaetz co-sponsored a resolution to impeach Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.
October 2021: Suspension from Practicing Law
In October 2021, Matt Gaetz was suspended from practicing law by the Florida bar due to unpaid fees but was later reinstated after the fee was paid.
July 23, 2022: Made Controversial Remarks at Student Action Summit
On July 23, 2022, Gaetz made controversial comments about overweight and unattractive women at a Student Action Summit, mocking them for supporting abortion rights. This led to significant backlash and fundraising efforts for abortion funds.
July 26, 2022: Voted Against Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act
On July 26, 2022, Gaetz voted against the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act.
September 2022: Called Impeaching Biden a "Priority"
In September 2022, Matt Gaetz called impeaching Biden a "priority".
September 2022: Prioritize Impeachment Inquiries
In September 2022, Matt Gaetz said that Republicans should prioritize "impeachment inquiries" against Democrats if Republicans won the 2022 U.S. House of Representatives elections.
2022: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2022, Matt Gaetz was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2022: House Majority and Speakership Vote
In 2022, Republicans regained a narrow House majority, leading to a contested speakership vote where Matt Gaetz and others withheld votes from Kevin McCarthy through 14 ballots. Ultimately, on January 7, Gaetz switched his vote to "present", allowing McCarthy to win the speakership.
May 2023: Cosponsored Impeachment Resolutions
In May 2023, Matt Gaetz co-sponsored resolutions to impeach President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas.
September 2023: Denounced Biden Impeachment Effort
In September 2023, Matt Gaetz denounced the Biden impeachment effort as a political stunt.
October 2, 2023: Filed Resolution to Oust McCarthy
On October 2, 2023, Matt Gaetz filed a resolution to oust Kevin McCarthy from his role as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after the latter had negotiated with Democrats to pass a shutdown-averting continuing resolution which did not include fiscally conservative reforms.
October 2023: Motion to Vacate Filed
In October 2023, Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate, leading to the removal of Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
October 2023: Filed Motion to Vacate Leading to Removal of Kevin McCarthy
In October 2023, Matt Gaetz filed a motion to vacate, which resulted in the removal of Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
April 2024: Voted Against Military Aid Package for Ukraine
In April 2024, Matt Gaetz voted against the $60 billion military aid package for Ukraine, even though a significant portion of the funds would have benefited his constituency.
November 13, 2024: Nomination and Resignation
On November 13, 2024, Donald Trump announced he would nominate Gaetz to serve as United States attorney general, which some Senate Republicans received poorly. Upon Trump's announcement, Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives.
November 2024: Resignation from the House
In November 2024, Matt Gaetz resigned from the House of Representatives due to his nomination as United States Attorney General, leading to the Ethics Committee probe losing jurisdiction and its report potentially not being released.
November 21, 2024: Gaetz Withdraws from Attorney General Consideration
On November 21, 2024, Matt Gaetz announced he was withdrawing his name from consideration as attorney general.
2024: Introduced National Prayer in School Act
In 2024, Gaetz condemned schools for promoting what he described as "degenerate LGBT and anti-White propaganda" and introduced his "National Prayer In School Act".
2024: Re-elected to U.S. House of Representatives
In 2024, Matt Gaetz was re-elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
2024: Father Elected to Florida Senate Again
In 2024, Matt Gaetz's father was elected to the Florida Senate again.
January 2025: The Matt Gaetz Show Premieres
In January 2025, Matt Gaetz began hosting The Matt Gaetz Show on One America News Network.
January 2025: Starts Hosting "The Matt Gaetz Show"
In January 2025, Matt Gaetz started hosting The Matt Gaetz Show, a political talk show airing weeknights on One America News Network.
