Linking arms with one of the globe’s most noxious brocasters might seem an odd way to burnish one’s political brand. But this is Mr. Trump’s America. And Mr. Gaetz long ago embraced the president’s strategy of spinning his ethical or legal troubles as a badge of honor — proof of his patriotism and MAGA loyalty — and attempting to ride that victimhood to political advancement.
All this might seem like cheesy theatrics, but it captures a core toxicity of the Trump era: spreading the incompetence and venality of the president’s own leadership to far-flung corners of the Republican Party — places where the national spotlight does not shine as brightly, but the damage wrought can nonetheless be devastating. Not infrequently, this occurs by recycling and shoring up the political losers and scoundrels among the MAGA faithful. Win or lose, they remain beholden to Mr. Trump.
Take the chronic election denier Kari Lake, twice defeated in Arizona in recent years, now reportedly set to be detailed to the State Department. Or Ryan Zinke, who was secretary of the interior during Trump 1, resigned amid a swirl of ethics investigations — which he dismissed as “meritless and false” and, of course, “politically motivated” — then went on to win a House seat representing Montana.
And let us not forget Ken Paxton, Texas’ scandal-ridden attorney general, who has weathered an impressive range of legal drama, including charges of securities fraud and whistle-blower claims of bribery and abuse of office. He was impeached by the Republican-led State House, then acquitted by the Republican-led State Senate. This month, a district court judge ruled that Mr. Paxton had wrongly fired the whistle-blowers, who were awarded $6.6 million.
But Mr. Paxton, a pro-Trump firebrand, just wraps himself ever tighter in his cloak of political persecution and keeps on swinging, to the delight of Republican voters. In 2022, he beat back a primary challenge from George P. Bush and went on to win a third term. Last week, he upped the ante, announcing that he would challenge Senator John Cornyn in next year’s Republican primary.
None of which is to say that Mr. Gaetz is certain to run for office again — or is guaranteed political redemption. But in an era of Trumpist rot and relativism, there is ample reason for him to harbor more than just a slither of hope.
Michelle Cottle writes about national politics for Opinion. She has covered Washington and politics since the Clinton administration. @mcottle
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