Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) slammed Georgia Republican Governor Brian Kemp on Twitter Friday for ignoring President Trump’s request to appoint Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) to the Senate, and warned the Georgia Governor that he could face a primary challenger in his next reelection if he doesn’t choose President Trump’s preferred candidate for the Senate seat, which is soon to be vacated by Johnny Isakson (R-GA).
Gaetz’s tweet comes amid reports that Kemp is expected to announce that financial executive Kelly Loeffler will be chosen over President Trump’s selection of Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA).
“I stand with hardworking Georgians and @POTUS. The idea that I would appoint someone to the U.S. Senate that is NOT pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-freedom, and 100% supportive of our President (and his plan to Keep America Great) is ridiculous. The attacks and games are absolutely absurd. Frankly, I could care less what the political establishment thinks. Happy Thanksgiving! More information after the holiday! #gapol,” Governor Brian Kemp tweeted last week.
Rep. Matt Gaetz responded to Governor Kemp and wrote Friday, “[President Donald Trump] told you how to be supportive: Appoint [Rep. Doug Collins]. You are ignoring his request because you THINK you know better than POTUS.”
“If you substitute your judgement (sic) for the President’s, maybe you need a primary in 2022. Let’s see if you can win one w/o Trump,” Gaetz warned.
In another tweet, the Florida Congressman said Governor Kemp would be “hurting President Trump” if he does not select Rep. Doug Collins. (Continued Below)
“’The establishment’ is who [President Donald Trump] helped u beat in the primary when you were down double digits. It’s not the establishment you are screwing with your donor-induced stubbornness,” Rep. Gaetz wrote. “You are hurting President Trump. You know this because he told you.”
The Florida Congressman then asked, “Gov. Kemp, do you have any idea how absurd it is to tweet that your big push-back against the ‘establishment’ is a donor who gave $700k plus to Mitt Romney and nothing to Trump until she wanted in the Senate? What’s next? Appointing Michael Vick to an animal welfare task force?”
Gaetz was referring to financial executive Kelly Loeffler, who is reportedly expected to be selected by Governor Kemp. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Kemp is slated to announce Loeffler as his pick next week. (Continued Below)
According to The Hill, Kemp’s reported selection comes after he met with Trump at the White House on Sunday, with the two reportedly have a tense disagreement regarding who should fill the soon-to-be-open seat. The meeting ended quickly, with Trump arguing that it could be politically risky to appoint Loeffler as she has less political experience than Collins, as per The Wall Street Journal.
Rep. Doug Collins, a four-term congressman, has been a vocal defender of President Trump amid the Russia probe and the ongoing impeachment inquiry. The Georgia Congressman has hinted at the possibility of running for a Senate seat if he is not selected by Kemp for the opening.
Rep. Matt Gaetz’s official tweets to Governor Brian Kemp:
.@realDonaldTrump told you how to be supportive: Appoint @RepDougCollins.
You are ignoring his request because you THINK you know better than @POTUS.
If you substitute your judgement for the President’s, maybe you need a primary in 2022. Let’s see if you can win one w/o Trump https://t.co/vtjT4CyLMI
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 29, 2019
Gov. Kemp, do you have any idea how absurd it is to tweet that your big push-back against the “establishment” is a donor who gave $700k plus to Mitt Romney and nothing to Trump until she wanted in the Senate?
What’s next? Appointing Michael Vick to an animal welfare task force?
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 29, 2019
