Matt Gaetz's Prison Comment Sparks Avalanche of Jokes, Memes

Rep. Matt Gaetz's remark about prison during a speech at a Republican gala has prompted jokes and memes on social media.

The Florida Republican and ally of former President Donald Trump's comment came as he touted the "MAGA talent" in the room during his address at the New York Young Republican Club's 111th annual gala on Saturday night.

"Steve Bannon, we've got Bernie Kerik, Boris Epstein, Vish Burra, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump, myself, all under one roof," he said.

"And if [President] Joe Biden is reelected, that roof will be known as cell block A."

Gaetz seemed to pause for a reaction from the audience after making the remarks, but awkwardly moved on when none came. Newsweek has contacted a spokesperson for Gaetz for comment via email.

The former president, who is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, faces 91 felony counts in four criminal cases—two of them related to his efforts to cling to power after he lost the 2020 election to Biden. He could be looking at years in prison if convicted.

Many responded to Gaetz's remark on social media with humorous takes, with some sharing memes indicating they were fine with prison time for Gaetz and his friends and others jokingly suggesting that the congressman was campaigning on behalf of Democrat Biden.

"Didn't expect to see Matt Gaetz campaigning for Joe Biden," Brian Tyler Cohen, a progressive political commentator, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Keith Olbermann made the same joke, writing: "BREAKING: Gaetz now doing campaign speeches for Biden."

"Works for me," wrote Jon Cooper, a Democratic fundraiser, in response to Gaetz's remarks.

"He finally Gaetz it," CK14 wrote.

Others said Gaetz's remarks suggested the only way Trump and his allies could stay out of prison is if Trump is reelected.

"Is he... Admitting that they're criminals and the only way they can stay out of jail is if Trump is reelected to pardon them?" one person wrote.

Another wrote that Gaetz is "basically admitting that Trump is running to keep himself and his fellow band of criminals out of jail."

Adam Parkhomenko, a Democratic strategist, wrote that Gaetz had "asked Donald Trump for a pardon and didn't get it so I guess it's no surprise he believes he is guilty."

Gaetz reportedly sought a pardon from Trump before he left the White House in January 2021 over the Department of Justice's investigation into sex-trafficking allegations him. Gaetz said in February that the probe had ended with no charges against him. He insisted throughout the investigation that he was innocent of any wrongdoing.