Internet blasts Matt Gaetz as he repeats Trump's 'stand back and stand by' call to extremists at his trial

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Republican congressman Matt Gaetz echoed Donald Trump's call to far-right extremists while he accompanied the 45th president to his hush-money criminal trial in Manhattan, reported Huff Post.

"Standing back and standing by, Mr. President," Gaetz wrote on X (formerly Twitter), along with a photo of him standing behind the former president in the courthouse hallway.

Besides the Florida GOP lawmaker, a handful of other Trump allies gathered in Manhattan to attend the trial in support of the ex-POTUS, including Reps Bob Good, Andy Biggs, Anna Paulina Luna, and Ralph Norman.

The trend of Republican legislators joining Trump at the court started after the former president had complained about his allies not defending him publicly. House Speaker Mike Johnson also accompanied the White House hopeful to court on May 14.

Matt Gaetz invokes Proud Boys chant

Trump first used the "stand back and stand by" phrase during the September 2020 presidential debate, where he refused to denounce armed white supremacists, the neo-fascist Proud Boys. The group was involved in violence that summer in the cities of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Portland, Oregon.

"Proud Boys, stand back and stand by," the MAGA spearhead said during the 2020 debate and then blamed others for the violence.

"I'll tell you what, somebody's got to do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem; this is a left-wing problem," Trump said.

Many leaders of the Proud Boys gang were convicted of seditious conspiracy over their role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection, which the former POTUS allegedly instigated.

Furthermore, the far-right gang had put Trump's infamous remark on T-shirts and used it as a chant when the then commander-in-chief declared a Civil War after his defeat in 2020, according to HuffPost editor Andy Campbell's book 'We Are Proud Boys'.

Democratic lawmaker Jason Crow lambasted Gaetz for parroting the real estate mogul's statement. "'Standing back and standing by', You know exactly what you are doing ― blowing the Proud Boys dog whistle," the Colorado lawmaker wrote on X. "Trying to be subtle in your call for violence; well we won't let you. This is unacceptable."

Internet condemns Matt Gaetz

Gaetz faced brutal criticism for repeating Trump's call to violent far-right groups to defend his presence at the hush money trial court.

"Go do your real job," a user demanded.

Another wrote, "That’s one of the most disgusting, un-American & unpatriotic posts I’ve seen by a U.S. Representative. Using a phrase that helped lead to an attack on our National Capitol, injury to 140 police & several deaths could only come from someone who is morally bankrupt & has no honor."

A user added, "Makes me want to work harder to get @JoeBiden elected! You people are an embarrassment to our country."

"The only word that comes to mind is "tool." What an incredible tool," read another response. Meanwhile, another person wrote, "This is embarrassing!"

"When y'all should be governing, you grovel. 100% what is wrong with the @GOP," another fumed. 

An individual noted, "This is why Republicans continually lose because our leadership is constantly distracted by Trump's drama. You guys would rather sacrifice the nation and party instead of sacrifice your ego."

Another user added, "Should have stopped after the first two words. And not interfere in the judicial processes around your cult leader."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.