Matt Gaetz Heckles Kevin McCarthy During RNC Interview in Milwaukee

Rep. Matt Gaetz continued his feud with ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, disrupting McCarthy during a TV interview.

Gaetz, who led the effort to remove McCarthy as House Speaker the previous year, heckled him by asking mockingly if he was scheduled to speak that night and taunting that McCarthy would be booed off the stage if he did.

Videos from the event show Gaetz being physically restrained by security as he heckled McCarthy. Gaetz’s comments included a jibe about McCarthy’s lack of a speaking slot at the convention. He stated loudly, “If you took that stage, you would get booed off of it,” emphasizing the animosity between the two politicians.

Immediately after his taunting remarks, Gaetz was confronted by an older gentleman who stepped in to rebuke him. The senior, addressing Gaetz by his last name, bluntly told him to stop being an “a**hole,” catching Gaetz off guard. This unexpected confrontation seemed to momentarily unsettle Gaetz.

Despite the tense exchange, Gaetz managed to extricate himself from the situation, though the interaction drew comparisons to a movie scene where a righteous character tells off a bully. Observers noted that the older man appeared to come out on top in the exchange, delivering a public scolding that resonated with the onlookers.

Meanwhile, McCarthy’s public image took another hit as he continued to be the target of ridicule. The incident at the RNC highlighted the ongoing strife within the Republican Party and underscored the personal and political tensions that persist between Gaetz and McCarthy.