GOP rising star Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. has been called many things — some good, some bad.
But Thursday he revealed a stunning detail — he’s also called dad.
And not only is he a father, but he’s been raising a Cuban immigrant son for the past six years.
Gaetz — well-known for his brash style of politics in Congress — surprised the media with his reveal.
aetz had made headlines for flaring tensions with Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-La., during a debate about police reform. Richmond charged that Gaetz didn’t know anything about raising children of color.
So he took to Twitter to announce his son, Nestor, to the political world.
“For all those wondering, this is my son Nestor,” he wrote on Twitter. “We share no blood but he is my life. He came from Cuba (legally, of course) six years ago and lives with me in Florida.”
Nestor turned 19 a few days ago & will be off to University. He arrived here at 12.
As you can imagine, I was triggered when (to make an absurd debate point) a fellow congressman diminished the contributions of Republicans because we don’t raise non-white kids.
Well, I have.
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) June 18, 2020
“I am so proud of him and raising him has been the best,” he added, “most rewarding thing I’ve done in my life.”
“Nestor turned 19 a few days ago & will be off to University. He arrived here at 12. As you can imagine, I was triggered when (to make an absurd debate point) a fellow congressman diminished the contributions of Republicans because we don’t raise non-white kids.”
“Well, I have.”
And it wasn’t long before Gaetz introduced Nestor on television, as the two appeared Thursday night on Fox News with Tucker Carlson.
“Nestor is the light of my life,” he told Carlson. “I couldn’t imagine loving him anymore if he was my own flesh and blood … he is just the most remarkable young man.”
“I’ve raised Nestor to believe that in our family, we create everyone equally. It doesn’t matter what their background is, what their race is, we treat every single American with respect.”
Carlson then welcomed Nestor into the conversation to share his thoughts on the Gaetz situation that occurred on the Congress floor with Rep. Richmond.
“Did you see all this?” Carlson asked.
“I think it’s kind of unfair, to tell someone they don’t understand because of their racial color,” Nestor responded. “He’s [Richmond] fighting for equality, but if you tell someone to not get involved, like he doesn’t understand because of his color, you’re kind of being a hypocrite.”
The young congressman was defended by an unlikely ally from across the aisle.
Former congresswoman Katie Hill, who resigned from Capitol Hill after being exposed for a threesome relationship with a campaign staffer, defended Gaetz from public attacks.
“<@mattgaetz & I have an unlikely friendship." she wrote on Twitter. "I can’t stand a lot of his beliefs but he’s been there for me when others haven’t. He talks about Nestor more than anything, has done so much for his son & is truly a proud dad." The Horn editorial team