Internet mocks Matt Gaetz for outburst against last-minute GOP primary challenger labeling him Kevin McCarthy's 'puppet'

Former naval aviator Aaron Dimmock filed his candidacy to challenge Rep Matt Gaetz in the August 20 Sunshine State Republican primary
UPDATED APR 30, 2024
Rep Matt Gaetz accused his Florida GOP primary challenger, Aaron Dimmock, of being Rep Kevin McCarthy's 'puppet' (Getty Images, jayscherr/YouTube)
Rep Matt Gaetz accused his Florida GOP primary challenger, Aaron Dimmock, of being Rep Kevin McCarthy's 'puppet' (Getty Images, jayscherr/YouTube)

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA: Rep Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was met with a primary challenge in his congressional district just before the filing deadline, according to Mediaite.

The challenge was filed by Aaron Dimmock, a former naval aviator, who will be running in the August 20 Republican primary against Gaetz.

What did Matt Gaetz say regarding his last-minute GOP primary opponent?

Rep Matt Gaetz accused his Florida GOP primary challenger, Aaron Dimmock, of being a "puppet" candidate, and chided former Rep Kevin McCarthy (R-Ca.) for retributively putting roadblocks in his bid for another congressional term.

Gaetz posted on X, “Meet @aaronwdimmock - the BLM supporting DEI instructor running against me in the Republican Primary. I knew former Representative McCarthy would be getting a puppet of his to run. I didn’t know it would be a Woke Toby Flenderson!”



 

Gaetz had played a crucial role in McCarthy's ouster as Speaker of the House in October, last year.

McCarthy, in retaliation, had filed an ethics complaint against Gaetz, accusing him of having sexual relations with a minor.


 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Congressman Matt Gaetz (@repmattgaetz)


 

In a recent report, The Daily Caller, a right-wing news outlet, revealed that Dimmock had previously supported the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), citing his LinkedIn page.

Gaetz compared him to a character from ‘The Office,’ Toby Flenderson, dismissing him as a "Woke" candidate.

Additionally, the aforementioned outlet reported that both Dimmock and McCarthy had connections with “a treasurer with American Patriots PAC, a group founded by allies of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.”

Internet trolls Matt Gaetz for blowing his cool over last-minute GOP primary challenger

One X user remarked, "Either one of you will be awful. You’ve done nothing for your constituents Matt."



 

Another user said, "Good luck to the challenger…… would be a REAL pleasure to see ‘the Gaetz’ go down!"



 

Another user asked, "Running scared there, Matty?"



 

One X user claimed, "Matt, there are a lot of Repubs who think you are a disaster. You could get voted out."



 

Another user quipped, "Someone's worried and it is hilarious."



 

Finally, this user tweeted, "Good for him. Cause you suck. Guess what. Maga has lost 3 special elections to moderates like him. Interesting. Maga seems to have met their end in fla." [sic]



 

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.

MORE STORIES

The House voted 426-0 to repeal the controversial provision that had been quietly added by Senate Republicans to the government funding bill
10 hours ago
Clay Higgins added he would support the bill only if the Senate amended it to better protect victims and uninvolved Americans
1 day ago
A three-judge panel ordered Texas to use the 2021 map for 2026, dealing a major setback to President Donald Trump and Republican redistricting plans
1 day ago
Near-unanimous vote followed pressure campaign from Democrats and dissident Republicans as Mike Johnson urged the Senate to fix 'serious deficiencies'
1 day ago
Mike Johnson backed the Epstein bill but warned of 'deficiencies' that he said the Senate must fix, as these flaws could expose sensitive materials
1 day ago
The DOJ sued California over new mask and ID laws for federal agents, arguing they violate the Supremacy Clause and endanger officers
2 days ago
Rae Huang slammed Mayor Karen Bass for her handling of homelessness and recent political violence, calling her own campaign a 'moment for change'
3 days ago
Donald Trump said holiday shoppers were seeing better deals, claiming Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal costs were about 25% lower than under Joe Biden
3 days ago
JD Vance says '30 million illegal immigrants' flooded the country under Joe Biden and drove up housing costs
6 days ago
Federal workers are finally relieved and national parks can reopen, but the Trump administration went a step further than taking a humble victory lap
7 days ago