Renzo Downey
Donald Trump ally U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz threatened Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp with a primary challenger as the Florida Congressman tweeted blows with the Governor’s Office Friday.
The spat comes amid rising tensions between Kemp and President Trump over their apparent disagreement about who should fill outgoing-Sen. Johnny Isakson’s seat. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Friday that Kemp will announce business executive Kelly Loeffler as his pick next week while the President has publicly supported another ally, Rep. Doug Collins, for the role.
“.@realDonaldTrump told you how to be supportive: Appoint @RepDougCollins. You are ignoring his request because you THINK you know better than @POTUS,” Gaetz tweeted Friday. “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.”
.@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
In August, Isakson announced he would retire at the end of the year, citing health concerns. The Georgia Governor will select Isakson’s successor until voters head to the polls next November.
Kemp’s advisors came to the Governor’s defense with personal attacks against Gaetz.
Ryan Matthew Mahoney, a Kemp aide, threatened that the Governor would not invite Gaetz to Kemp and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ feral hog hunt.
“Self-serving politicians who wear tight, acid-washed jean shorts and cowardly hide behind their keyboard can’t cut it in South Georgia,” Mahoney tweeted.
The Governor’s communications director, Candice Broce, said Gaetz was “oddly submissive to the Swamp.” And Cody Hall, Kemp’s press secretary, tweeted: “Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz seems to be struggling with @staceyabrams syndrome. Like Stacey, he’s not the Governor either.”
Kemp issued his own defense Wednesday as tensions initially rose despite a reported secretive meeting between Trump, the Governor and Loeffler last week in which Kemp sought to persuade the President to back Loeffler.
“The attacks and games are absolutely absurd. Frankly, I could care less what the political establishment thinks,” Kemp tweeted Wednesday.
Gaetz responded to the Governor Friday, saying that choosing Loeffler hurts Trump.
“‘The establishment’ is who @realDonaldTrump 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,” Gaetz tweeted.
“The establishment” is who @realDonaldTrump 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.
You are hurting President Trump.
You know this because he told you. https://t.co/rv0DpeChwo
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 29, 2019
