After making fat-phobic and misogynistic remarks about abortion rights advocates to an audience of college students on Saturday, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is now being investigated by the FBI for alleged sex trafficking of a 17-year-old, has come under criticism on social media.
“Have you seen these pro-abortion, pro-murder rallies?” the Florida congressman questioned the youths assembled at the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit in Tampa, Florida.
In my opinion, the folks are just awful. Weirdly, it seems that women who have the least chance of becoming pregnant have the most fear of unwanted pregnancy. “If you look like a thumb, nobody wants to impregnate you,” Gaetz said.
From the inside out, they’re a disgusting bunch.” Some of these women are 5’2″ and 350 pounds, and they’re threatening to protest until they have their abortions. In addition, I’m wondering if it’s March already? Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court’s landmark decision on abortion, “looks like you’ve got ankles weaker than your legal logic.”
As far as I’m concerned, some of them ought to get up and march for an hour every day. “Swing those arms, get the blood pumpin’, and maybe mix in a salad,” he said.
Critics on social media reacted angrily to Gaetz’ outburst.
His remarks were dubbed “cartoonishly misogynist” by the feminist news outlet Jezebel.
According to journalist Molly Jong-Fast, Congressman Gaetz’s statements are a definition of misogyny.
For those who were critical of the congressman, the issue that has dogged Gaetz since The New York Times first reported on his suspected involvement in the sex trafficking of an underage girl last year was brought up again.
Joel Greenberg, a longtime friend of Rep. Gaetz, pleaded guilty to sex trafficking in the last months of President Trump’s presidency, which sparked a federal probe into the Florida politician.
The investigation into whether Gaetz paid for an underage girl to accompany him on a cross-country sex-trafficking trip is still ongoing, more than one year after the alleged sex-trafficking took place.
Since the investigation began, only a few pieces of the puzzle have come to light. As of yet, no charges have been brought against Gaetz.
In exchange for dinner or hotel stays, Gaetz arranged dates with women, a practice that might be criminal if there was an exchange of money for sex. The Washington Post exposed this practice. Reports stated that Greenberg sent a letter to Gaetz claiming that he had paid women to have sex with him.
According to the Daily Beast, Gaetz deposited $900 to Greenberg on Venmo by saying, “Hit up __,” which is a nickname for the teen’s name.
This is something Gaetz has always denied doing, even admitting he had sex with a 17-year-old when he was 17 years old. Gaetz has been contacted by Newsweek for a response.
In harsh responses to Gaetz’ remarks in Tampa, his detractors on social media brought up the claims against him that are currently being probed.
“Says the guy whose wingman Joel Greenberg is currently working with the feds,” said one, commenting on the video provided by Jong-Fast.
Others referred to Gaetz’s purported Venmo payments, which were mentioned.
A 10-year-old rape victim who was denied an abortion in her home state had to go to another to get the surgery, and Gaetz’s comments were incendiary in this context.
Commentators noted that Gaetz’s statements matched Trump’s argument in denying the sexual assault accusation made by author E. Jean Carroll when he declared she wasn’t “his type” in an interview with The Hill.
“Matt Gaetz believes that women who support abortion rights are too unsightly to require their services. It’s Trump’s contention that the victims he allegedly raped weren’t his type. An “opportunity” to rape an innocent 10-year-old is a belief held by Republicans.
“Ladies, they hate us because they fear us,” commented a Twitter user in reaction to Gaetz’s comment on the platform.