Former congressman and current TV news anchor Matt Gaetz was caught sending a wide array of messages to his mother in a video filmed by a fellow flight passenger, including advice for opining on the president.
The video, posted by the TikTok account ‘tidesofmarch,’ showed Gaetz, 43, dressed in a blue quarter-zip and khakis with headphones draped around his neck, scrolling through a lively text conversation with his mom.
The caption “POV: You’re sitting behind Matt Gaetz and he’s texting his mommy.”
Despite the light-hearted response to the incognito video, the messages between Gaetz and his mother, Vicky Gaetz, could spell trouble for the TV host.
In the back and forth, the duo discuss President Trump and how Gaetz believes he can ‘guide’ the president using his TV show.
‘Don’t be criticizing the president or his actions. He’s trying to keep us safe. That’s his job. MAGA will turn on you. You will lose viewership,’ the mother of the One America News (OAN) host warns. ‘Your days in congress are over … Let’s not mess up the media gig.’
‘The president has been a very good friend to you. He hates betrayal. Be smart, not stubborn,’ the mother pleads.
‘I’m trying to guide him, not criticize him,’ the TV host replies.
‘But I’ve never been freer to share my views – and I’ll continue to do so. I think about the people who cheered the Iraq war because they liked Bush. Those people have blood on their hands,’ he continues.
Former congressman Matt Gaetz was secretly filmed reading texts from his mom during a flight. The viral TikTok clip reveals many private personal conversations
In the messages Gaetz talks to his mother (center) about having $500K in his bank accounts and owning two condos
The TikTok account that published the texts belongs to a pro-IVF advocate whose bio reads ‘Black AF Bi Student Midwife’ and whose posts include a pregnancy diary shared with over 30,000 followers.
The 72-second video shows zoomed-in messages between Gaetz and his mother, seen from over his shoulder as he sits in the front of the plane.
His messages to his mom span an incredible array of topics, including the conflict in Iran, that ‘has been 3 months away from a nuke since 1992,’ according to Gaetz, his personal life, TV show and relationship with President Trump.
‘Apparently someone sitting behind me on a flight recorded me without my knowledge,’ Gaetz posted on X after the video went viral. ‘They found me texting my mother about news of the day, family finances, and working on my laptop.’
‘Please let this be a reminder to everyone to CALL YOUR MOTHER!’ he shared.
When Gaetz’s mother pushes against her son’s guidance on Trump, the former Republican pushes back, claiming he’s quite familiar with how to persuade the president.
‘Guiding DJT always includes a private and public component,’ Gaetz writes. ‘I know how to do it.’
Matt Gaetz with mother (and extended family) on his official facebook page
In a note of concern, Gaetz’s mom asks her son ‘How many times do you want to hit the wall?’
To which the former Florida congressman responds confidently: ‘I’m a happily married man with a son on the way, two penthouse condos, a 1:1 real estate asset to debt ratio.’
He also tells his mother that he has ‘$500K in my bank account cash.’
The messages are a larger font than typically used on an iPhone, helping viewers clearly see much of the former politico’s conversation.
When one journalist questioned on X why the lettering was so large, Gaetz responded, ‘My eyesight has gotten very poor in recent years.’
Gaetz gave up his seat in Congress last year to be nominated to become Trump’s attorney general.
Gaetz withdrew his nomination after being engulfed in allegations about his personal life and partying with young women as a lawmaker.