Matt Gaetz is back in the Washington spotlight, and not as a lawmaker. The former Florida congressman turned up at a Pentagon press briefing on December 2 as a One America News Network host. He wore a jacket that still read Representative Matt Gaetz. Then he drew attention again by approving a resurfaced bikini photo of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The mix of official access and social media showmanship set off a fresh firestorm.
From lawmaker to partisan media
Gaetz resigned from Congress in November 2024. He soon pivoted to TV, launching The Matt Gaetz Show on OANN in January 2025. He has cast himself as a voice for the MAGA base. This week he stepped into the briefing room as part of a MAGA-aligned press group. Reports say mainstream outlets staged a walkout over new Pentagon rules that require content pre-approval. Into that vacuum, Gaetz and other right-wing figures moved in.
He asked pointed questions about U.S. policy toward Venezuela. The scene looked like a test of who gets to interrogate power. It also looked like a strategy, using official space to build a partisan brand.
Gaetz’s media turn shows how the line between politics and press is now a blur.
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The ethics shadow that shapes the reaction
The outcry is not just about access. It is also about Gaetz’s record. A December 2024 House Ethics Committee report alleged he paid for sex, including with a 17 year old. It said he used illicit drugs and obstructed the probe. The Department of Justice did not bring criminal charges. Still, the report’s details hang over him.
That is why his public approval of a bikini photo of Karoline Leavitt sparked anger. Critics say it shows poor judgment. They also say it clashes with the standards expected of anyone granted a seat in a Pentagon briefing. Supporters dismiss the outrage as media bias. But the optics matter in a town that runs on norms.
DOJ declined to charge Gaetz. The House Ethics report still shapes public opinion.
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Press access, policy stakes, and partisan power
The Pentagon briefing was not just theater. It has policy stakes. If the Defense Department is seen favoring one type of outlet, trust suffers. If it restricts mainstream outlets, the public may get a narrower view. If it opens the door to partisan figures, questions may turn into viral clips, not careful probes.
Reports of pre-approval rules alarmed many journalists. They argue the government should not screen content. Press access is a public good. It helps citizens understand war, peace, and spending. Letting hyperpartisan outlets dominate the microphone could tilt what the country hears about defense choices. Gaetz’s Venezuela question showed how a single voice can frame a complex issue as a quick hit.
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What this signals for the GOP media strategy
Gaetz’s rebrand fits a larger MAGA playbook. Power flows to platforms, not committees. It rewards hosts who can drive a storyline in minutes. It pressures institutions, and it rallies a base that wants confrontation on camera.
Here is what to watch next:
- More partisan media at official briefings
- More viral clips replacing long, detailed questions
- More fights over press rules and access lists
- More pressure on the White House to pick who gets called on
When you watch briefings, check who is asking questions. Note their outlet, and what they gain from a viral moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why was Matt Gaetz at the Pentagon briefing?
A: He attended as an OANN host, joining a MAGA-aligned press corps after a reported walkout by mainstream outlets.
Q: Is Gaetz still in Congress?
A: No. He resigned in November 2024 after being nominated, then withdrawing, as a Trump-era Attorney General pick.
Q: What did he say about Karoline Leavitt’s photo?
A: He publicly approved a resurfaced bikini photo, which drew criticism given his ethics controversies.
Q: What did the House Ethics report allege?
A: It alleged he paid for sex, including with a 17 year old, used illicit drugs, and obstructed the probe. DOJ did not file charges.
Q: How could this change press access?
A: It could normalize partisan figures at official briefings, and intensify fights over rules that govern who gets in and who gets called on.
Conclusion: Matt Gaetz is no longer shaping policy from a committee dais. He is shaping narratives from a TV set and a briefing room chair. His Pentagon cameo and his social media behavior reveal a media era that prizes punch over process. The civic test now is simple. Can our institutions protect open press access, hold to clear standards, and keep the public interest ahead of the next viral clip? The answer will matter long after the trend fades.
