Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) took the stage at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Wednesday touting that he would be former President Donald Trump’s number one ally in Congress if elected.
In an impassioned speech, the representative from Florida’s 1st Congressional District criticized President Joe Biden over high inflation and foreign aid.
“Inflation has gotten so bad under the Biden-Harris Administration that you can no longer bribe Democratic senators with just cash; you’ll need to use gold bars to ensure your bribes have value,” Gaetz said.
Gaetz said that with Trump’s support, he would end taxpayer funding for political campaigns and ban lawmakers from trading individual stocks.
“Trump would never defund the police, but he will cut foreign aid to countries that hate us,” he added. “And Trump understands that it’s not racist to check ID to get a hunting license, or welfare benefits, or a fishing license, so it’s OK to require ID to vote in every election in this country.”
Read Matt Gaetz’s full speech here:
The House Ethics Committee is currently investigating Gaetz.
Gaetz has represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District since 2017. He is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and faces a variety of allegations, including sexual misconduct and illegal drug use, which he denies.
The Republican National Convention is running through Thursday in Milwaukee, with former President Donald Trump scheduled to formally accept the party’s nomination for the 2024 election on Thursday.
USA TODAY and the USA TODAY Network have more than 60 journalists in Milwaukee. Follow our live blog for updates throughout the day.
more:RNC 2024 live updates: Latest news on what to expect from Tuesday’s schedule
What you need to know about Matt Gates
- Who are they: Republican U.S. Representatives from Florida
- What they do: Wednesday speakers at the convention
- Key quote: “A Democrat recently said that any criticism of Joe Biden is best left to his own devices. I don’t think it’s too much to ask of the president of the United States to be competent to carry out his job.”
more:Who’s speaking at the RNC? See the full list of speakers and who’s already on stage
When and where is the Republican National Convention?
The Republican National Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from July 15 to 18.
The Fiserv Forum, home of the Milwaukee Bucks, will be the main venue for the Republican National Convention.
Events will also be held at the nearby University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Panther Arena and Baird Center.
How can you watch the event and get the latest news about the tournament?
USA TODAY is streaming the Republican National Convention from start to finish, available to watch here starting Monday, July 15.
Updates from the RNC can be found at gopconvention2024.com.
