Matt Gaetz may bow out of Congress early: report

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), an ally of former President Trump, is reportedly considering retiring from Congress to take a job with Newsmax, according to an Axios report.

Gaetz, who was first elected to the House in 2016, the same year Trump won the presidency, has told allies that he is thinking about ending his congressional career in its third term. He’s started early conversations with Newsmax about joining the conservative network, according to Axios. 

Newsmax saw its ratings shoot up in the weeks following Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election and is seeking to cast itself as an alternative to Fox News, the ratings leader among cable news networks.

Gaetz, 38, has gained a lot of attention for his support for Trump, and has frequently made cable news appearances to talk up the former president. Trump has teased running for office again in 2024. 

According to a source, Gaetz believes having a prominent spot in the media could help him gain momentum for a national political role in the future. 

Gaetz recently made political waves by backing an effort to remove Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) from House leadership after she voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.