Matthew Louis Gaetz II, born on May 7, 1982, in Hollywood, Florida, is an American politician and lawyer. He served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2016, where he chaired committees on finance, tax, and criminal justice, advocating for tax cuts, deregulation, and tough penalties for sexual predators. He then served as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 1st congressional district from 2017, representing Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and parts of Walton counties, until his resignation in 2024, after which he is a former Florida Congressman. A Republican, he is known for his alignment with the House Freedom Caucus and as a prominent Trump ally. Raised in a prominent political family near Fort Walton Beach, Florida, he is the son of Don Gaetz, a former Florida state senator and hospital administrator who co-founded Vitas Healthcare, and Victoria Gaetz. He earned a Bachelor of Science in interdisciplinary sciences from Florida State University in 2003 and a Juris Doctor from the College of William & Mary in 2007. Admitted to the Florida Bar in 2008, he briefly worked in private practice before entering politics.

As a U.S. Representative, he emerged as a vocal libertarian populist and ultraconservative with far-right views and a strong alliance with former President Donald Trump, becoming a vocal critic of mainstream media and Democrats. He served on the Armed Services and Judiciary Committees, focusing on national security, tax reform, and constitutional principles, and was known for his role in congressional investigations. He gained national attention for defending Florida's 'stand-your-ground' law and for his role in ousting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in October 2023 via a motion to vacate. A staunch Trump defender, Gaetz was nominated by President-elect Trump in November 2024 for Attorney General but withdrew amid controversies. His tenure included involvement in caucuses on climate solutions, animal protection, and robotics.

Gaetz married Ginger Luckey in 2021; her brother, Palmer Luckey, is a Republican donor and Oculus VR founder. He has faced significant scrutiny, including a House Ethics Committee report detailing allegations of sexual misconduct, drug use, and payments to women, though no criminal charges have resulted. His influence extends through media appearances as a political commentator and a social media presence, with over 878,000 Instagram followers. His family's wealth, including his father's estimated $35 million fortune, has supported his campaigns, where he self-funded significantly. Post-resignation, Gaetz continues as a prominent Republican voice, emphasizing government accountability and transparency, and is known for his staunch support of Trump and involvement in conservative activism.