'AI powered inflatable sex doll': GOP lawmaker torches Matt Gaetz after his RNC speech

18 July 2024

One of Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-Florida) colleagues in Congress just publicly slammed him after his speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

On Wednesday night, the Florida Republican spoke to RNC delegates and made his case for former President Donald Trump to return to the White House. But the actual content of his speech was overshadowed by his appearance, with Newsweek reporting that the MAGA congressman's face prompted a flood of mockery and memes.

"Gaetz looked strikingly different just a day earlier, when he attended the convention but did not address the crowds," Newsweek's Katherine Fung observed. "On Tuesday, his face looked less full and lines could be seen on his forehead as the congressman got animated or expressive while speaking."

"Matt Gaetz looks like he's about to open a white tiger-themed magic show on the Las Vegas strip," journalist Emily Zanotti tweeted. Former Republican lawyer Ron Filipkowski opined that Gaetz "got a little carried away with the Botox before his big speech." And comedian Rohita Kadambi made a dig at Gaetz's opposition to LGBTQ+ rights by telling the Florida congressman: "Using this much botox/filler is gender affirming care."

But the mockery wasn't limited to journalists and commentators. In a tweet of his own, Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisconsin) referred to Gaetz as an "AI powered inflatable sex doll" with a photo of his face at the RNC lectern. His tweet angered some GOP-aligned followers who urged him to help his party unite during its quadrennial convention.

"Why TF is a Republican congressman tweeting this during the RNC?!" X user @Jason_The_Texan tweeted. "WTF is this?"

"Is there a Member of Congress more hated than Gaetz?" Another user wrote, describing Gaetz as a "lecherous buffoon."

Of course, Van Orden is not without baggage of his own. The Wisconsin Republican made headlines last year for telling teenaged Senate pages to "get the f— up" when he saw them laying on the floor to take photos of the Capitol dome, and called them "lazy s—s."

"I have long said our nation's Capitol is a symbol of the sacrifice our servicemen and women have made for this country and should never be treated like a frat house common room," he said at the time. "Threatening a congressman with bad press to excuse poor behavior is a reminder of everything that’s wrong with Washington. Luckily, bad press has never bothered me and if it's the price I pay to stand up for what's right, then so be it."

The Republican lawmaker may have been under the influence of alcohol, as Punchbowl News reporter Max Cohen posted a photo of multiple bottles of liquor on the congressman's desk before the incident.

"Van Orden and staff were heard partying loudly before he cursed out a group of teenage Senate pages," he tweeted.

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