At the same time "The View" hosts pressed Gaetz on his support of Trump, another long-time friend and adviser of the president, Roger Stone, was sentenced in federal court. Stone -- who has been charged with obstructing justice, witness tampering and five counts of lying to Congress -- was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and fined $20,000.
Stone's appearance came amid a disagreement between line prosecutors and the Justice Department’s recommendation for lessening his sentence -- four of the prosecutors who signed onto the sentencing memorandum withdrew from the case in protest, one of whom even resigned from DOJ. Trump also expressed sympathy for Stone on Tuesday, leading to questions about a possible pardon from the president.
When co-host Sunny Hostin asked Gaetz if he thinks Trump should pardon Stone, Gaetz said, "I do."
"I would agree that Roger Stone should be pardoned. If for no other reason than there has been a double standard in this country where people like Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe ... have not faced consequences."
He was also asked about Trump's recent designation of the ambassador to Germany -- Richard Grenell -- as acting director of national intelligence.
When host Joy Behar asked about Grenell's loyalty to Trump, Gaetz stood by the president's designation.
"If you look at the team he's assembled with people like [former National Security adviser] John Bolton, the president regularly surrounds himself with people who disagree with him," Gaetz said. "I think some of the most spirited discussions I've had have been with -- have been with [Sens.] Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul, [and] myself and the president discussing foreign policy."
Grenell, the first openly gay member designated to a cabinet position, wouldn't have been allowed to serve in national intelligence 50 years ago, Geatz pointed out.
"But just for a moment, I would like to take a second to reflect on the fact that this is a good thing in this country that we do not ban gay people from being able to patriotically serve in the intelligence community," he said, praising Trump for his decision.
Hostin then interrupted, saying, "Just transgendered people."
"Well we shouldn't be banning anybody based on who they are and who they love," Gaetz said. " That's not the kind of Republican I am, and it's not the kind of Republican the president is."
Grennell tweeted on Thursday that his role will not be permanent: "The President will announce the Nominee (not me) sometime soon."
Gaetz also tore into the Democrats following Wednesday night’s fiery debate in Las Vegas, where former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg took the stage and faced attacks from the other Democratic candidates for the first time.
"It's fascinating right now that the Democratic party is likely not going to nominate a Democrat," he said, referencing Sen. Bernie Sanders and Bloomberg respectively. "They're either going to nominate a Socialist or someone who some time ago was a Republican."
He lashed out at former Vice President Joe Biden, who has recently been slipping in the polls.
"What state is he going to win?" Gaetz said. "I mean, this is a man -- the fundamental premise of the Biden campaign is that he is electable, and he can't seem to win elections."
When asked by the hosts who he thought could beat Trump in the general election, Gaetz responded "none of them."
Meghan McCain seemed frustrated on Thursday as Rep. Matt Gaetz told her that he would support President Trump granting a pardon to political strategist Roger Stone.
"Oh, come on, congressman! Come on. Come on. He's the swampiest swamp creature," she said. Gaetz defended his position, arguing that former presidents Obama and Clinton both pardoned many more people than Trump.
Their conversation came just before news surfaced that Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison, following his conviction last year.
"When we designed our Constitution, there were vestiges of the British monarchy that Americans still had some reverence for," Gaetz said, "and one was the notion that the executive, that the sovereign could extend unlimited grace ..."
Gaetz was cut off by co-host Whoopi Goldberg who asked: "Did you just say 'the sovereign'?"
Behar also chimed in: "Oh my God, so Trump is the king?!"
Gaetz added that he thought Stone should be pardoned "if, for no other reason, that there has been a double standard in this country where people like Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe, [James] Clapper, [John] Brennan have not faced consequences."
Gaetz referred to prominent intelligence and FBI officials, who all have been consistently criticized by the president and Republicans for their roles in the Russia investigation. None has been indicted or charged.
Gaetz hasn't exactly been welcomed with open arms on "The View." In October, McCain blasted Gaetz for taking part in a sit-in with other House Republicans during the impeachment inquiry against Trump.
"By the way, Matt Gaetz, when did you want to become a TV star or want to be a TV star?" she said. "You want to do that? Get the hell out of Congress. Get a TV job."
Gaetz responded by suggesting he was more interesting. “It’s not my fault I’m more interesting in Congress than she is on television," he said. "If Meghan McCain wanted me to come on her show to help ratings, all she had to do was ask.”
Stone's sentencing came after Attorney General William Barr took the controversial step of revising the original sentencing recommendation for Stone. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Stone’s crimes demanded a significant time behind bars, but she said the seven to nine years originally recommended by the Justice Department were excessive.
Stone’s lawyers had asked for a sentence of probation, citing his age of 67 years, his health and his lack of criminal history.
Stone was convicted in November on all seven counts of an indictment that accused him of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 election.
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