Matt Gaetz boasts support from Donald Trump in response to latest Mark Lombardo attack ad
The Matt Gaetz Lombaro battle hits the air.

Gaetz Lombardo SBS
'Does President Trump suspect that Matt Gaetz is the informant?'

As the Aug. 23 Primary Election draws closer, the Republican candidates for Florida’s 1st Congressional District have launched new attack ads.

Mark Lombardo’s latest ad, entitled “The Informant,” suggests incumbent U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz does not have the backing of former President Donald Trump and questions whether Gaetz was the informant that led to the FBI raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.

“Does President Trump suspect that Matt Gaetz is the informant?” Lombardo asked in a statement. “Gaetz has a history of putting himself first and he reportedly has good reason to turn on Trump in order to keep himself out of jail. Remember, Gaetz asked Trump for a wide-ranging pardon. Trump said ‘no.’ Could Gaetz be out for revenge? Only Matt Gaetz and the FBI know the truth.”

The 30-second spot begins with images of Trump at rallies.  A female narrator says, “When Donald Trump really endorses someone, he goes big.”

An illustration suggested to be Gaetz with no face covered by a question mark appears on the screen as the narrator says, “You’ve seen none of that from Matt Gaetz.”

She continues, “What does Trump know? Is Gaetz the informant?”

A flashing image of convicted child sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein appears as the narrator says “Gaetz hired Jeffrey Epstein’s attorney.”

A still shot of a law enforcement agent flashes on the screen while the narrator says, “Another Epstein attorney approved the raid on Trump’s house.”

“Remember, Gaetz pressured Trump to give him a pardon but Trump said no,” the narrator says as the word “No” flashes over a photo of the Congressman. 

“Matt Gaetz puts himself first, ahead of Trump and ahead of you,” she says. Footage of Lombardo meeting with voters is shown as the narrator closes the ad saying, “Vote for a leader who will put America first. Vote for Marine Mark Lombardo.”

The Gaetz campaign fired back, saying “President Trump has endorsed Congressman Gaetz, has praised him profusely as recently as 10 days ago at CPAC, and is sending his son Don Jr. to Pensacola to campaign for Gaetz. Mark Lombardo’s campaign lacks events, supporters, energy, and truthfulness. His defeat next Tuesday will leave him a million bucks poorer and rightfully humiliated.”

The Congressman’s campaign released its own ad focusing on Gaetz’s support from Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. It begins with images of Gaetz with Trump and DeSantis as audio plays of DeSantis saying, “Congressman Gaetz here, who has been working very hard for the people of Northwest Florida. He’s going to be there every step of the way to support the people here.”

A clip of Trump speaking at CPAC rolls as the former President praises Gaetz, calling him “really courageous and a really great guy. He loves Florida. He loves the country. Matt Gaetz.”

A still shot of Trump and Gaetz appears as Trump says “He has an endorsement of me, 100% endorsement.”

The ad goes back to a clip of Trump speaking at CPAC as he says, “I’ll tell you, he’s always working and he does indeed fight for all of us. Freedom is what he fights for.”

Gaetz has maintained a strong fundraising lead over Lombardo, raising $188,821 between July 1 and Aug. 3 He spent $802,788 — including $526,000 on advertising. 

Lombardo, who has poured $750,000 of his own money into his campaign, has released a series of attack ads against Gaetz over the summer.

Aimee Sachs

Aimee Sachs covers politics in her hometown of Tallahassee and the Panhandle. The University of Florida graduate began her career as a sportswriter for the Tallahassee Democrat, Lakeland Ledger and MLB.com. She has also worked for Courthouse News Service and was a senior reporter for The Florida Channel before joining Florida Politics. You can email Aimee at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @AimSachs.


5 comments

  • The.Truth.Comes.Out.In.The.End

    August 16, 2022 at 6:07 pm

    I guess Mr Trump left out that Mr Gaetz is being investigated… I’ll trust a marine who upholds is oath to our Republic over a possible pedifile. Gaetz is also someone who has not given his support to our nations FBI. One of his close associates called for defunding the FBI and supporting civil war. Matt Gaetz belongs somewhere besides congress.

    • Just a comment

      August 17, 2022 at 5:02 pm

      I am not in the billionaire club
      I wouldn’t know but if we got to see we will see

  • Beth

    August 18, 2022 at 5:02 am

    What type of subhuman scum fights for the endorsement of a disgusting treasonous sexual predator who attempted to overthrow our government? Then they run around yelling about what great Christians they are. How did this country become so incredibly stupid?
    Time for decent, intelligent Americans to rise up and get all these immoral animals out of office.

    • Pa

      August 18, 2022 at 10:08 am

      Well it started with the Tea Party, which was a thinly veiled dog whistle for the uneducated white population. Then, it devolved quickly into “boat parades” and fascism. Hard to turn back now. The monetary gap between the middle and upper middle class has spread, leaving the poor and mower middle classes frustrated. Unfortunately, classes are sticky, so generational problems ensue, including divisiveness.

      • JD

        August 18, 2022 at 10:44 am

        This is truth. The Tea Party is the father of the MAGA party, Newt Gingrich is their grandfather and Joe the Plumber is their mother.

Comments are closed.


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