DAILY BEAST
Cheat SheetNewsletters
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    SCIENCE
    • Hunt for the Cure
    • Rabbit Hole
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDBs Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      HALF-FULL
        CULTURE
        • Power Trip
        • Fashion
        • Books
        • Royalist
        TECH
        • Disinformation
        SCOUTED
        • Face Masks
        • Clothing
        • Technology
        • Bedroom
        • Kitchen
        • Home
        • Fitness
        • The Case For
        • I'm Looking For
        • New Kids On the Block
        COUPONS
        • Adidas Promo Codes
        • DoorDash Promo Codes
        • H&M Coupons
        • Hotwire Promo Codes
        • Wine.com Discounts
        • Vitacost Coupons
        • Spanx Promo Codes
        • StubHub Promo Codes
        Products
        NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
        FOLLOW US
        GOT A TIP?

        SEARCH

        • My Account
        • Manage Newsletters
        • Subscription Offers
        • Need Help?
        • Log Out
        HOMEPAGE
        Daytime Talk

        ‘Oh Come On!’: Matt Gaetz Embarrasses Himself on ‘The View’

        NOT SINCE DON JR.

        The Republican congressman searched for a lifeline in Meghan McCain, but she was loath to give one to him.

        Matt Wilstein

        Senior Writer

        Updated Feb. 20, 2020 6:30PM ET / Published Feb. 20, 2020 1:10PM ET 
        The View/ABC

        It was awkward from the start. After noting that their next guest has been one of Donald Trump’s most loyal supporters “since day one,” Joy Behar introduced Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as “a man who has obviously never watched The View.” 

        “I do watch,” Gaetz insisted. “You guys make news every week.” Then came his first attempt at a joke. “I was just wondering if you were wearing black as a consequence of the death of the political left in the debate last night,” he said to near silence from the crowd and co-hosts. “It was quite something to observe.”

        Advertisement

        When Behar pushed back, Gaetz added, “Well, Joe Biden at least. I was hoping that maybe Whoopi's bell could wake up the Biden campaign.”

        Whoopi Goldberg just glared at him.

          As Gaetz proceeded to attack the Democratic field, Behar said, “Let’s talk about your boss for a second.” He clearly knew she was referring to Trump, but shot back, “My boss are the people of northwest Florida,” to which Behar rolled her eyes and added, “Yeah, OK.” 

          Advertisement

          Over the course of the interview, Gaetz repeatedly searched for a lifeline in the only conservative co-host at the table, but Meghan McCain was loath to give one to him.

          When the congressman defended Trump’s pick of the under-qualified Richard Grenell as acting Director of National Intelligence by arguing that “it is a good thing in this country that we do not ban gay people from being able to patriotically serve in the intelligence community,” Sunny Hostin chimed in with, “just transgender people.” 

          “We shouldn't be banning anybody based on who they are or who they love. That's not the kind of Republican I am, and that’s not the kind of Republican the president is,” Gaetz said, despite the fact that Trump deliberately reinstated a ban on transgender service members. All the hosts could do was laugh in disbelief. 

            Advertisement

            The last straw for McCain came when Gaetz said he supported the idea of Trump pardoning Roger Stone. “Oh come on, congressman!” she said. “Come on, come on. He's the swampiest swamp creature.” 

            “When we designed our Constitution there were vestiges of the British monarchy that Americans still had some reverence for, and one was the notion that the executive, that the sovereign, could extend unlimited grace for any reason,” Gaetz explained. 

            “Did you just say the sovereign?” Goldberg asked. 

            “So Trump is the king?” Behar added.

            Advertisement

            By the end of the segment, Gaetz was rattling off Trump’s list of supposed “deep state” boogeymen including Peter Strozk, Lisa Page, and Andrew McCabe and alleging a “double standard” when it comes to pardon power. He had no defense, however, when it came to Trump’s pardon of Rod Blagogevich, explaining, “I don't know much about the governor of Illinois so I'm not going to get into that one.” 

            “Congressman, I understand that Republicans coming on The View, this is a great culture-war place to come and show the leftists what's going on,” McCain said eventually, perhaps alluding to Donald Trump Jr.’s noisy appearance on the show last fall. “I get it. My husband works in conservative media.” As a “hardcore conservative” who’s “not a Trumper,” she wanted Gaetz to speak to the “character issues” that could prevent college-educated conservative women from sticking with the president in 2020.

            But instead of mounting a defense of Trump, Gaetz fell flat on his face. “Well, look, if cheating on your wife is a disqualification to be president, then y’all probably should have impeached Bill Clinton,” he said.

            When Behar and Goldberg simultaneously reminded him that “they did,” Gaetz stammered, “but not with all of you waving any pompoms.” 

            Advertisement

            “I’m sorry, I don’t know what that means,” Goldberg said. 

            “It means nothing,” Behar helpfully explained. And that was pretty much it.

               

              Matt Wilstein

              Senior Writer

              @mattwilsteinmatt.wilstein@thedailybeast.com

              Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.

              READ THIS LIST

              DAILY BEAST
              • Podcasts
              • Cheat Sheet
              • Politics
              • Crime
              • Entertainment
              • Media
              • Covid-19
              • Half Full
              • U.S. News
              • Scouted
              • Travel
              • Subscription
              • Crossword
              • Newsletters
              • Podcasts
              • About
              • Contact
              • Tips
              • Jobs
              • Advertise
              • Help
              • Privacy
              • Code of Ethics & Standards
              • Diversity
              • Terms & Conditions
              • Copyright & Trademark
              • Sitemap
              • Coupons
              © 2022 The Daily Beast Company LLC