Zach Gibson: Trump Isn’t Coming to Matt Gaetz’s Rescue—for Now

In the days after revelations about the federal investigation into Rep. Matt Gaetz's alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl, Donald Trump's advisers have consistently offered him a simple message: Please keep your mouth shut.

According to two people familiar with the matter, the former president accused twice has been closely following the scandal engulfing one of his favorite allies on Capitol Hill. The former president, in his typical fashion, has casually questioned several confidants about what they think of the situation and if there is anything he should do about it.

But several people close to Trump have strongly advised him to stay on the sidelines, that he refrain from publicly defending Gaetz, they tell him, at least for the moment.

The two sources said that in every conversation they are aware of, Trump appeared to ultimately agree with the recommendations to remain silent. One of the sources added that the former president has lamented that the whole thing seems "really bad" for Gaetz, while mentioning that the accusations could be a "defamation" against the super loyal Trump.

Gaetz has claimed that he is the victim of an intricate extortion plot, involving Florida lawyers, $ 25 million, and a bizarre scheme to free former CIA agent Bob Levinson (who the United States government assumes is dead ). And yet, even though Gaetz's claims have some credibility, the underlying story that Gaetz is under a Justice Department investigation for a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old also seems credible.

In fact, to date, only two House Republicans have actually jumped to Gaetz's defense: Republican of judicial rank Jim Jordan (R-OH), who has faced accusations that he ignored serial sexual assault. , and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who rarely misses an opportunity to dismiss media reports and side with Trump-loving Republicans.

Gaetz did not respond to a message asking if he had heard from former President Trump in recent days. And a free tiktok fans erump spokesman was also silent on Friday. But as of Friday night, Trump and his office had not released any official statement on the matter. 

Trump, who was banned from his Twitter account, has been unable to tweet, or retweet, about the Gaetz scandal. And several diaspora heavyweights and luminaries around the Trump world, as well as members of the Trump family, have tried to keep quiet about the Republican congressman's growing troubles.

"I don't expect anyone to be guilty of anything, but it seems like he has a lot of explaining to do," Barry Bennett, a former Republican operative and lobbyist who advised Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, said of Gaetz on Friday. . "People underestimate Donald Trump's political ear."

Bennett went on to say that Trump was loyal to those loyal to him. But, he said, no one wants to be associated with a guy who has been labeled with these kinds of accusations if they turn out to be true. “For free tiktok followers something like this,” Bennett said, “a ten-foot pole is not long enough. The former president should stay as far away from this as possible. "

In the past, Trump has hardly hesitated to free tiktok fans publicly defend prominent allies, or himself, free robux when they have been accused of assault or sexual misconduct. But this time, the allegations appear to be true for many people close to Gaetz. And every day since the initial story, the scandal has widened and become more explosive.