Former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was blindsided by a wild question about rumors of a supposed romance with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
The eyebrow-raising moment came during an interview with Tucker Carlson.
Carlson grilled Gaetz on whether he ever dated the New York congresswoman, a notion he swiftly shot down, despite past bipartisan teamwork in Congress.
In May 2023, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld first floated the idea of a hypothetical romance between Gaetz and Ocasio-Cortez as a jest on “The Five.”
At the time, Gaetz was married, and Ocasio-Cortez was engaged to her fiancé, Riley Roberts.
The quip seemed like harmless banter until it resurfaced later.
This week, Carlson brought the rumor back to life on his web show, asking Gaetz point-blank about any romantic history with the 36-year-old democratic socialist.
Gaetz, now hosting a show on One America News, didn’t mince words in his denial.
During their time in Congress, Gaetz, an outspoken MAGA supporter, and AOC forged an unlikely partnership on bipartisan issues.
They were even photographed together on the House floor on Jan. 3, 2023.
But political collaboration doesn’t mean personal connection, and conservatives might smirk at how quickly the left’s narrative spins into melodrama.
Carlson wasn’t content with a simple no, pushing further with, “Did you try?” as he quizzed Gaetz on any interest in Ocasio-Cortez.
Gaetz shot back with, “No, and uh, not my cup of tea,” making it clear he wasn’t entertaining the idea.
The former congressman didn’t hold back on critiquing Ocasio-Cortez’s past behavior either, recalling her reaction to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol protests.
He described her response as “bad performance art,” suggesting it lacked the gravitas expected of a leader.
Ocasio-Cortez herself has spoken of experiencing “trauma” from the Capitol events, a claim Gaetz seems to dismiss.
WATCH:
Tucker Carlson: “What’s [AOC] like?”
Matt Gaetz: “Before Jan. 6 she was incredibly chummy with Republicans, she would regularly come over to our side, sit down, hang out… after Jan. 6 she treated us all like we had horns or something.”pic.twitter.com/IQAHs8ySlP
— Joe Rogan Podcast News (@joeroganhq) December 25, 2025
Gaetz’s own journey took a sharp turn in November 2024, when he resigned from Congress after President Donald Trump nominated him for attorney general.
That bid collapsed when even fellow Republicans withheld support, leading Gaetz to withdraw his name.
Shortly after, the House Ethics Committee released a 2021 report on allegations of sex trafficking and other misconduct tied to Gaetz.
While the Justice Department declined to charge him, his associate Joel Greenberg wasn’t as fortunate, earning an 11-year sentence for federal sex trafficking of a minor.
On a brighter note, Gaetz and his wife, Ginger, welcomed a baby boy in August 2025, a personal milestone following their 2021 marriage.
Meanwhile, Gaetz continues to build his media presence on a conservative cable network, while Ocasio-Cortez remains a prominent voice for the far-left progressive agenda.
READ MORE – ‘Socialist’ AOC Accused of Hypocrisy Over Lavish Puerto Rico Trip
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