Matt Gaetz Caught Texting His Mom About How He’s ‘Guiding’ Trump

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz was secretly recorded on a flight texting his mother about “guiding” President Donald Trump against the U.S. getting involved in the Iran and Israel war.

The video recording was uploaded to TikTok on Monday and has more than 1 million views as of press time. In the texts captured in the video, Gaetz inadvertently let slip some private family news while also defending his attempts to sway the president on foreign policy and his abilities as a Trump whisperer in response to his mother’s warning against opposing him.

“I’m trying to guide him, not criticize him,” Gaetz texted his mom, according to the TikTok video. “But I’ve never been freer to share my views — and I’ll continue to do so.”

He continued, “I think about the people who cheered the Iraq war because they liked Bush. Those people have blood on their hands.”

Gaetz, who hosts “The Matt Gaetz Show” on One America News Network, said on his June 17 show that Trump’s pro-Israel friends and advisers were trying to “pressure” Trump into launching airstrikes against Iran.

“On this program, we strongly disagree with that assessment and that advice,” Gaetz said at the time. “President Trump should reject it.”

Gaetz also had Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on his show Monday, who was critical of the U.S. getting involved in another foreign war. Gaetz and Greene were also critical of a regime change in Iran.

Gaetz addressed the TikTok video early Tuesday morning, writing on social media that he was recorded without his knowledge.

“They found me texting my mother about news of the day, family finances, and working on my laptop,” Gaetz wrote. “Please let this be a reminder to everyone to CALL YOUR MOTHER! (and maybe get a screen protector).”

Elsewhere in the TikTok, Gaetz can be seen texting his mom about “guiding” Trump, writing, “Guiding DJT always includes a private and public component. I know how to do it.”

His mom at one point texted Gaetz that he shouldn’t criticize Trump or his actions.

“He’s trying to keep us safe,” Gaetz’s mom wrote. “That’s his job. MAGA will turn on you. You will lose viewership. Your days in congress are over, practice of law? Let’s not mess up the media gig. The president has been a very good friend to you. He hates betrayal. Be smart, not stubborn.”

Gaetz doesn’t hold any public office after he resigned from Congress in 2024 after Trump said he planned to nominate him as attorney general. Many Senate Republicans said they wouldn’t vote for him because of the allegations against Gaetz, accusing him of paying two women for sex, so he withdrew his name from consideration and then declined his seat in Congress.

It’s unclear what contact, if any, Gaetz has with Trump. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Also in the TikTok, Gaetz’s mom can be seen asking him how many times he wants to “hit the wall.”

Gaetz responded, telling his mom he’s a “happily married man with a son on the way,” has two penthouse condos and $500,000 cash in his bank account.

“I guess I’ll keep hitting it till I die,” he texted back.

News of Gaetz and his wife having a baby wasn’t public before. On Tuesday, his wife, Ginger Gaetz, posted a photo of a sonogram and announced she was pregnant with their first child together.