Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) made headlines during the Texas Youth Action Summit on Saturday when an unusual disruption occurred on stage.

Jul 17, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla. speaks during the third day of the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum. The third day of the RNC focused on foreign policy and threats. Mandatory Credit: Mike De Sisti-USA TODAY

A man wearing a dress stormed the stage while Gaetz was speaking, but the congressman kept his composure and responded with a witty remark that left the audience in stitches.

As the individual approached Gaetz, the congressman calmly observed, “This is a very strange individual,” while security quickly intervened and escorted the protester off the stage.

Once the disruptor was removed, the crowd broke into applause and cheers.

Gaetz then delivered a quip that drew even more laughter from the audience, asking, “Was that Liz Cheney?”

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, speaks at the Texas Tribune Festival after endorsing Kamala Harris for President days earlier. Cheney, a republican, served as vice chair of the House Jan. 6 Select Committee. She spoke with Mark Leibovich, a staff writer at The Atlantic during a one-on-one at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Sept. 6, 2024.

The jab at the former Wyoming congresswoman added a humorous twist to the incident.

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Gaetz was among several prominent conservative figures speaking at the annual Texas Youth Summit, an event designed to inspire young conservative voters.

Other notable speakers included Donald Trump Jr., U.S. Reps. Cory Mills (R-FL), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Wesley Hunt (R-SC), and Chaya Raichik, the founder of Libs of TikTok.

The summit has grown into a significant platform for conservative thought leaders to engage with the next generation of voters.

The Texas Youth Summit was founded in 2019 by Christian Collins with the mission to combat the influence of leftist ideologies on American culture, particularly among young people.

According to the summit’s website, the event aims to educate and train students to support principles such as fiscal responsibility, free markets, limited government, and American exceptionalism, all grounded in Judeo-Christian values.

“America is being lost because our culture is being shaped in the minds of our youth by those who seek to fundamentally change the American way.

The Texas Youth Summit is how we counter the effects of the left and begin to win back the hearts and minds of our Nation’s most precious resource, our future generations,” reads the summit’s mission statement.

The disruption during Gaetz’s speech briefly shifted attention from the summit’s larger goals, but it was quickly diffused, and the event continued as planned.

Gaetz, known for his sharp rhetoric and ability to handle confrontation, used the moment to highlight his stance on political opposition.

This incident follows other recent headlines surrounding Gaetz, including his claims about assassination threats against former President Donald Trump.

Earlier in the week, Gaetz claimed that he had received information about multiple assassination teams allegedly targeting Trump. “I had a senior official from the Department of Homeland Security in my office before the second assassination attempt saying what he has assessed is that there are five known assassination teams in the United States, three inspired by other governments, two that are here that are known domestic assassination teams,” Gaetz stated.

The Texas Youth Summit, despite the brief interruption, continued its focus on motivating young conservatives across the country.

The event serves as a platform for influential conservative figures to reach younger generations and encourage them to engage in the political process.

Speakers emphasized the importance of preserving American values and countering what they view as the growing influence of left-wing ideologies in schools, media, and government.

Gaetz’s participation in the summit and his ability to handle confrontations like the one on Saturday underscores his role as a key figure in the conservative movement.

His remarks, along with those of other speakers, highlighted the event’s overarching theme: shaping the future of America by reaching and empowering young voters to embrace conservative principles.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, events like the Texas Youth Summit are becoming more prominent as conservative leaders aim to inspire the next generation to take an active role in shaping the country’s future.

With figures like Gaetz leading the charge, the focus remains on reinforcing the values that many believe are fundamental to the nation’s success.

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