Matt Gaetz to join news network OAN as anchor

“OAN is blazing a trail in media, embracing not just traditional news but the platforms where Americans are going — streaming, apps, podcasts and social media. I couldn’t be more thrilled to join OAN’s forward-thinking team and be part of this revolutionary expansion,” Gaetz said in a statement.

Gaetz entered the House of Representatives when Trump’s first presidency began in 2017. He was often in the news for this vigorous participation in House committee meetings and was a loyal advocate of Trump’s presidency and a severe critic of his opponents, especially those who tried to impeach him on two occasions.

After accepting Trump’s nomination for attorney general and resigning his congressional seat, Gaetz decided to drop out from consideration after receiving pushback. On Nov. 21, he posted on X, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1."

While hosting his OAN show, Gaetz will also join the network’s Dan Ball and co-host a weekly podcast called Real America With Dan Ball, which OAN promises, “will deliver fresh perspectives and unfiltered conversations tailored for Millennials, late Gen Z and early Gen Xers.”

“We’ve been big fans of Matt Gaetz from day one,” Ball said in a statement. “We admire his leadership and authenticity, and we’re confident he’ll really connect with our viewers. It’s an exciting partnership that’s going to take OAN to the next level.”

CNN, which first reported Gaetz’s new role at OAN, suggested that the right-of-center media outlet “has established itself as perhaps the most extreme of the pro-Trump news outlets.” OAN host Chanel Rion is encouraging Trump to entertain an alternative to the White House Correspondent Association (WHCA) which is dominated by legacy media, many of which were hostile to Trump during his first presidency. Rion, who worked as a correspondent during Trump’s first term, has begun the process of forming two new media associations for new and independent media organizations not currently recognized by the WHCA. They would be called the National White House Correspondents' Association (NWHCA) and its sister organization, the United States White House Correspondents' Association (USWHCA).