Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was grilled by Fox News host Maria Bartiromo during a heated interview this week, claiming that he was letting his “personal vendetta” towards House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) push him to the point in which his opposition for a short-term spending bill to prevent a shutdown was actually benefiting the Democratic Party as well as Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY).
On Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures,” the argument happened during the part where Bartiromo said Gaetz was threatening to “blow up all of the victories” that Republicans have achieved so far while they have been in the House majority.
“Do you not currently have an indirect working relationship with Democrats?” Bartiromo spoke up. “Because you’re going to let Chuck Schumer make a budget bill next week that keeps the government running. That’s what your behavior is achieving. So some people think this is a personal grudge that you hold against the speaker.”
Gaetz said, “No, my grudge is against a Washington system that lets corruption put the needs of lobbyists and PACs ahead of the needs of the American people.” He also said that McCarthy “helps that system work.”
He also said, “I’m not going to work with Chuck Schumer or any other Democrats. I’m currently collaborating with House conservatives to make sure that spending bills only cover one subject.”
She told Gaetz that he was “helping” Schumer and the Democrats, and Gaetz replied, “No, no, no. You guys attack me for making spending bills with only one subject, but you praise Kevin McCarthy for doing the same thing. The truth is that this is the only way to get out of a bad system.”
@RepMattGaetz to @MariaBartiromo this morning responds to criticisms he is working with Democrats:
"You guys criticize me for forcing single subject spending bills. Then you give McCarthy the credit for doing it. The reality is this is the only way to liberate ourselves" pic.twitter.com/SnL5KU732m
— SundayMorningFutures (@SundayFutures) September 24, 2023
Bartiromo said that she agreed with a number of Gaetz’s specific goals but not with the way he was going about things and the way he was putting things on the line.
He told McCarthy that he had a “political gun” to his “head” and that he would keep doing that.
