Fox’s Juan Williams Dubs Matt Gaetz 2023’s ‘Politician of the Year’ In Scathing Op-Ed: ‘Living Monument’ to Chaos
Juan Williams, a Fox News senior political analyst and former co-host of The Five, named Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) the “politician of the year” in an op-ed in The Hill on Monday. While the title Williams bestowed on Gaetz may sound like high praise, the veteran pundit meant it as anything but and offered a brutal takedown of Gaetz as an “empty heart” political leader.
“Gaetz deserves a place in history. He is a living monument to an era of elected Republican officials with no interest in governing,” Williams wrote after noting Gaetz was behind the chaotic 15-round vote to install Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) at the beginning of the year and the push to remove him, which resulted in a three-week shutdown of the House.
Williams went on to argue that in today’s Trump-dominated Republican Party, where flamethrowing members of Congress battle to one-up one another to make headlines, Gaetz “stood out.”
He argued that “in a year when politics often was locked into whatever is trending on social media. Two right-wing internet sensations — Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) — gave him a run for the title with their crass, public name-calling match on the floor of the House.”
“The bold lying by Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) also defined the year in the House. And McCarthy himself reached for the title of shameful political actor when he allegedly elbowed Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.),” Williams argued, concluding:
But Gaetz takes the prize, for successfully paralyzing the House for the entire year.
With his hands on the wheel and driving toward revenge and chaos — all to raise his personal profile and stir up small, online donations — Gaetz crashed the House of Representatives in a ditch on a low road.
As a result of his tactics, the people’s House, one of the world’s great democratic institutions, is now commonly derided by citizens on the left and right as a clown show.
Williams goes on his scathing piece to explain the deep divisions in the House GOP Conference and how Gaetz’s antics have only led to greater tension within the party. He also argues that Gaetz’s “influence, his antics and his embrace of chaos over governance are part of the reason why so many Members are bolting for the exits.”
The Daily Beast on Monday published an article in which several members of the House GOP were asked to weigh in on Gaetz’s popularity. The piece titled, “Matt Gaetz Is Miraculously More Hated Than Ever in Congress,” includes many of Gaetz’s Republican colleagues taking aim at him.
“Matt probably has the most ire directed towards him. Matt’s an effective member of Judiciary, he’s one of the best questioners we have and he’s a member of Congress, just like everybody else. But he also revels in the conflict. And he knows that, too,” Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) told the Beast, for example.
While Williams didn’t speak to Gaetz’s colleagues he makes a similar case and argues that the Republican Party is more dysfunctional and divided than ever. Williams concludes by looking ahead, writing, “As we look to 2024, Gaetz and other Trump acolytes make up a disturbing preview of the future of the GOP. For that reason, Gaetz is 2023’s Politician of the Year.”
