Florida Republican Representative Matt Gaetz is facing criticism after he tried to give himself and fellow Representatives Lauren Boebert (Colorado) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) a patriotic nickname.
Gaetz had referred to the trio as "The Pro-America Squad" in what appeared to be an effort to offer a counter to the group of progressive House lawmakers known as "The Squad."
The Pro-America Squadpic.twitter.com/7TRAGWtsNq— Matt Gaetz (@Matt Gaetz) 1634854852
All three lawmakers have voted against certifying the election win of President Joe Biden and have openly backed individuals who stormed the United States Capitol during the January 6 insurrection.
In addition to downplaying the attack, they have regularly peddled former President Donald Trump's "Big Lie" that the 2020 general election was stolen despite all evidence to the contrary.
The jokes practically wrote themselves.
Gaetz's effort backfired spectacularly when his critics offered their own nicknames for the group.
The Sedition Squad!https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— java (@java) 1634915808
More like the Flat Earth Society.— Chris D. Jackson (@Chris D. Jackson) 1634855881
Looks like a police line-up for insurrection suspects.— Roastmaster General (@Roastmaster General) 1634856664
Reality GQP show— Justin Norvell (@Justin Norvell) 1634854910
Or conspiracy bat shit grift squadhttps://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— John (@John) 1634863128
The Seditious Squad\nThe Nazi Squad\nThe Sex Offenders Squadhttps://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— Kim DeMoss \ud83d\udc89get Vaxxed help the \ud83c\udf0d (@Kim DeMoss \ud83d\udc89get Vaxxed help the \ud83c\udf0d) 1634864637
Worst threesome everhttps://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— Adam (@Adam) 1634875835
More like The Three Stooges.https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— Cary Doyle (@Cary Doyle) 1634909520
Three pennies waitin' for change.\n\nDiet food for zombies.\n\nThe Traitor Trio.\n\nA tragedy in three parts.\n\nA dullard's triad.\n\nThree turds, no punchbowl.https://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— Rex Huppke (@Rex Huppke) 1634856911
The Pro #GOPSeditiousTraitors Squad \n\n@GOP really? How did the California recall work out for ya'll. If this is what you want GOP voter's to fall in line we will vote Country Over Party if this is the only CRAP you offerhttps://twitter.com/mattgaetz/status/1451312556488986628\u00a0\u2026— Maebel (@Maebel) 1634914927
Each member of the self-proclaimed "Pro-America" squad has generated significant negative press aside from backing insurrectionists.
Federal authorities are investigating Gaetz on child sex trafficking charges after it emerged the DOJ launched a probe into whether he paid a 17-year-old girl and took her across state lines for sexual purposes.
Gaetz has denied allegations he violated sex trafficking laws and engaged in other sexual misconduct while in office by citing the age of consent.
Boebert, meanwhile, drew the ire of the feds for not disclosing her husband's income from an energy firm in her campaign finance disclosures.
She was also cited by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for her apparent personal use of thousands of dollars in campaign funds.
Greene has made numerous headlines for downplaying the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She remains undeterred by news that the highly contagious Delta variant has contributed to an uptick in Covid-19 hospitalizations across the United States.
Twitter has suspended Greene's account multiple times for violating the platform's rules regarding Covid-19 misinformation.
