House Republican says Trump calls him regularly ‘because I defend him on television’

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said that President Trump calls him on the phone periodically, and that he believes it’s because he often comes to the president’s defense on television.

“He cracks me up when he calls,” Gaetz told BuzzFeed News.

“I think it’s because I defend him on television,” the Florida Republican said, explaining why Trump calls him. 

{mosads}

Gaetz, a freshman congressman who took office just weeks before Trump entered the White House, has emerged as one of the president’s most ardent defenders in Congress. 

He’s been particularly critical of efforts by congressional committees and special counsel Robert Mueller to investigate Russia’s role in the 2016 election and possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

He gained notoriety in November when he and two other House Republicans – Reps. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) – introduced a resolution calling for Mueller to be removed from the Russia probe. 

He has also accused the special counsel’s investigation of rampant bias, and pushed for the release of a controversial memo by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee that alleged abuses by the FBI and Justice Department.