Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy scolded Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Friday for attending a fundraiser in Jersey City where attendees were not socially distanced or wearing masks.
“Last night, the [New York Young Republican Club] allegedly snuck into Jersey City to hold a ‘gala fundraiser’ – ignoring our social distancing and mask rules,” Murphy tweeted, along with a photo of Gaetz apparently taken at the party. “It is beyond the pale that anyone would willingly endanger people in another state. Jersey City law enforcement is investigating this matter.”
“It is also beyond the pale that Rep Matt Putz – I mean @RepMattGaetz – would participate in this. What a fool. Matt – You are not welcome in New Jersey, and frankly I don’t ever want you back in this state,” Murphy added.
It is also beyond the pale that Rep Matt Putz – I mean @RepMattGaetz – would participate in this. What a fool.
Matt – You are not welcome in New Jersey, and frankly I don’t ever want you back in this state. pic.twitter.com/j67x9Z2lAf
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) December 4, 2020
At a press conference, Murphy said, “That guy in the middle, the tall, handsome fella in the gray suit, that is Representative Matt Putz — oh sorry, Matt Gaetz — and based on his past performances, it is obvious being a knucklehead is not beyond the pale for him. He was actually Sarah Palin’s backup act for this event.”
In response, Gaetz tweeted, “Thank you for calling me handsome, Governor! I’m only considered handsome in New Jersey, though. In Florida I’m barely a roundup 6.”
Thank you for calling me handsome, Governor!
I’m only considered handsome in New Jersey, though.
In Florida I’m barely a roundup 6. https://t.co/BtyHDflaSM
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) December 4, 2020
Jersey City’s Democratic Mayor Steven Fulop also scolded Gaetz and those at the gala, saying in a statement to WNBC: “In Jersey City we take Covid enforcement very seriously, and this event appears to be an egregious violation of the governor’s executive orders, including capacity limitations and mandatory mask wearing.”
Murphy’s lockdown orders on New Jersey residents are some of the strictest in the nation, having limited even Thanksgiving gatherings to 10 people per household. Footage of him being yelled at while eating at a restaurant without a mask on recently went viral.
The Daily Wire reported:
Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was accosted by angry residents while he ate dinner with his family until he put a mask on, according to footage that went viral Sunday.
“Oh my God, Murphy, you are such a d***,” one woman says in a video posted on social media. Murphy does not respond.
“You’re having fun with your family, in the meantime, you’re having all kind of other bulls*** going on…,” another woman says.
Murphy’s son then suggests the women might have had too much to drink and asks them to put their masks on, to which one of the women says, “You can go f*** yourself, how’s that? I don’t need a f***ing mask. You know why I don’t need a mask? Because there ain’t nothing f***ing wrong with me.”
When Murphy’s son points out how one of the women has a Trump phone case, he claims Trump likes his dad. “No, he doesn’t like your father,” the woman responds. Murphy then puts a mask on, and the women leave as one of them says, “You know what? You suck!”
Related: ‘I’m Not Afraid Of Tyrants’: New Jersey Gym Owner Arrested After Disobeying Lockdown Order