Matt Gaetz suddenly concerned that DC is under military 'occupation'

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Monday night described the National Guard troops deployed to secure Washington, D.C., after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol as an “occupation.”

Gaetz’s comments came during an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity.”

“I don’t want to give the Democrats any more of a basis to be able to have this forever occupation of Washington, D.C.,” he said. “We now have a capital city wrapped in barbed wire, crisscrossed in barricades, and it is not what our country deserves.”

Gaetz also said he had concerns about giving House Speaker Nancy Pelosi what he called “a predicate for that extended occupation.”

National Guard troops were deployed to Washington after the attack on the Capitol by pro-Trump rioters that resulted in the deaths of five people.

Law enforcement is continuing to monitor threats against members of Congress, an official told the Associated Press, since the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Jan. 20, leading them to request that Guard troops remain in the city.

Gaetz did not express similar concerns about “occupation” when the National Guard was deployed to Washington during Black Lives Matter protests in the summer of 2020.

From the Jan. 15 edition of Fox News’ “Hannity”:

MATT GAETZ: Let me caution against leaning too hard into the “What did Nancy Pelosi know and when did she know it?” narrative, I don’t want to give the Democrats any more of a basis to be able to have this forever occupation of Washington, D.C.

 

Jason’s right, we now have a capital city wrapped in barbed wire, crisscrossed in barricades, and it is not what our country deserves. So let’s not help Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats build a predicate for that extended occupation.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.