Matt Gaetz is currently in the spotlight for his view on sending US financial aid to Ukraine, so meet his right-hand man, Joel Valdez.
Matt Gaetz, the US representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district since 2017, has divided social media with his latest comments on the Ukraine-Russian war. He is openly against providing Ukraine with additional US financial aid, even after President Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to fire top officials to crack down on corruption.
“There is no amount of ‘purges’ that will suddenly make me support giving money to Ukraine,” Gaetz told Fox News. No matter how many critics, Gaetz can rely on his communications director Joel Valdez, who joined his staff in 2021. Here’s everything we know about him.
Who is Matt Gaetz’s press staff Joel Valdez?
Valdez has served as Gaetz’s communications director since April 2021. Born February 11, HITC estimates he is about 23 years old as he graduated from UIC College Prep in 2017.
A native of southside Chicago, he attended the University Of Illinois at Chicago from 2016 to 2017, and studied political science at the University Of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for one year. During that time, he was active in Turning Point USA, Illini Republicans, and United Illini.
His first step into politics was as an intern for North Carolina’s 11th congressional district representative, Mark Meadows, in 2019. Valdez’s first post for Gaetz’s team was as an intern for a month in 2020, followed by a role as an analyst for Trump’s War Room.
He became Gaetz’s press assistant in April 2020 and has worked his way up to communications director.
I am extremely proud of my boss @RepMattGaetz for working to secure the most transformational rules in the history of the U.S. House of Representatives and showing the country what FIGHTING FOR THE PEOPLE looks like!
We’re ready for the next battle. #PRESENT
— Joel Valdez (@realJoelValdez) January 7, 2023
Joel Valdez was on the scene when Roe V Wade was overturned
On June 24, 2022, the landmark Roe V Wade legislation allowing abortion up to the first two trimesters was overturned.
As Gaetz’s spokesman, Valdez appeared on the conservative network RSBN (Right Side Broadcasting Network) and Gaetz’s Firebrand podcast to celebrate the reversal.
Valdez, Firebrand’s executive producer, told viewers: “Millions of babies will no longer have to die at the hands of deranged leftists.” The broadcast interviewed protesters against, and supporters of, the ruling.
