Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz has made waves by extending praise to several Democrats, a rare and notable move for a Republican known for his fiery political style. Within just 24 hours, Gaetz commended Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, California Representative Ro Khanna, and Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan for their efforts on issues ranging from consumer protection to military family support.
Gaetz took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight Senator Duckworth’s push to expand in vitro fertilization (IVF) insurance coverage for military personnel. Despite their political differences, Gaetz showed support for Duckworth’s plea to President-elect Donald Trump to back her proposal, calling it a “good pro-family concept.” His praise came even though Duckworth has been critical of Trump, especially regarding his cabinet picks, including controversial figures like Fox News host Pete Hegseth.
In another post, Gaetz applauded Representative Khanna for his commitment to working with the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a key initiative under the Trump administration. Khanna, a Democrat from California, has been a vocal advocate for eliminating wasteful government spending. Gaetz echoed his sentiments, commending Khanna’s efforts to hold defense contractors accountable, citing Khanna’s successful campaign to force TransDigm to refund $16 million over price-gouging practices. “This is why Ro is a very special public servant,” Gaetz wrote. “He’s not going to call Elon & Vivek fascists or whatever. He’s going to seize the opportunity and work the problem.”
Even more surprising was Gaetz’s endorsement of Lina Khan, a Democratic FTC chair, for her efforts to protect consumer privacy. Gaetz shared a post celebrating Khan’s recent move to crack down on data brokers selling Americans’ sensitive location data, calling it “crazy stuff” and thanking Khan for “fighting back.”
In a time when partisan divisions are deepening, Gaetz’s ability to praise Democrats for their work on key issues signals a pragmatic approach to governance. With a narrow GOP majority in the House, Gaetz’s calls for cooperation across the aisle may serve as a model for Republicans looking to push forward bipartisan solutions, especially on issues like government efficiency, consumer protection, and military family welfare.