Matt Gaetz fires back at critics after attending Zelensky’s speech

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Republican Representative Matt Gaetz hit back at criticism of his decision not to applaud or defend Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when he addressed Congress on Wednesday.

Although Zelensky received a standing ovation when he described US aid to Ukraine as an “investment in global security and democracy” that is being handled “in the most responsible way,” Boebert and Gaetz remained seated.

Gaetz responded to comments from fellow Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger, also appearing to mock Kinzinger’s decision not to seek re-election.

Republican Representative Lauren Boebert joined Gaetz in refusing to applaud or defend Zelensky and the two faced criticism on social media for their actions.

“I couldn’t imagine looking in the mirror if I was @mattgaetz or @laurenboebert,” Kinzinger tweeted. “They sat smugly as history was written and a true hero spoke to us. Imagine caring more about performance art than actual human lives.”

Gaetz replied to Kinzinger: “You should run in Ukraine. Maybe you could win an election there.”

Kinzinger, who is a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, chose not to seek re-election to the House of Representatives this year and will step down from Congress.

He was one of two Republican members of the House Select Committee investigating the events of January 6, 2021. That committee made several criminal referrals to the Justice Department on Monday, including against the former president.

When asked to comment on not applauding Zelensky on Wednesday, Gaetz’s office referred Newsweek to a statement the Republican shared on Twitter shortly after the speech.

“President Zelenskyy should be commended for putting his country first, but American politicians who accede to his demands are unwilling to do the same for ours,” Gaetz said. “He did not change my position on the suspension of aid to Ukraine and the investigation of fraud in transfers already made.”

Newsweek has contacted Boebert’s office for comment.

The congresswoman shared a short video on Twitter after Zelensky’s speech and said she hadn’t heard “a clear explanation of where the first $50 billion we sent to support their efforts went.” . She said she would not support further aid to Ukraine without an audit.

In his address to the joint session of Congress, Zelensky thanked the United States and its allies for the support his country has received since the Russian invasion began on February 24.

His speech comes as the Senate considers a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill to prevent a government shutdown before a deadline on Friday.

The spending package contains about $45 billion in new emergency aid for Ukraine.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell supports the spending program and called aid to Ukraine “the number one priority for the United States right now according to most Republicans.”

Only 10 GOP votes will be needed in the Senate to pass the omnibus spending bill, which has already passed the House. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill once senators approve it.

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks to members of the press in Washington, DC, November 15, 2022. Gaetz did not applaud Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his address to Congress on Thursday. Alex Wong/Getty Images

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