The discourse reached a new low this past weekend when one of President Donald Trump's most devout sycophants—Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL)—began fighting with actor and Trump critic Ron Perlman on Twitter.
Perlman called out Gaetz and Trump for threatening the U.S. Soccer Team for allowing its players to kneel during the National Anthem in protests of racist violence in the United States.
Gaetz tried to rebut Perlman by pointing out that he played a White supremacist in the series Sons of Anarchy.
@mattgaetz/Twitter
But Perlman was quick to clap back.
@perlmutations/Twitter
Matt Gaetz's behavior as a Congressman frequently earns him the title a**hole from the public.
He threatened Trump's attorney-turned-critic Michael Cohen on Twitter ahead of Cohen's testimony before Congress. He recently fantasized about shooting down Antifa members "like we do those in the Middle East"—a tweet that was soon flagged for glorifying violence.
But Gaetz was undeterred and continued to try to spar with Perlman.
Speaking of Woke Matty, do you think it's just Hollywood that thinks you're an asshole? Read the comments, I'll wait… https://t.co/gUg6buUQ7t
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 14, 2020
@perlmutations/Twitter
Matt gaetz is nothing without his daddy's money and help https://t.co/7vTbcfJ9dm
— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) June 14, 2020
Drunken traitorous Florida Man @mattgaetz is just too drunk to know the difference between TV & real life, Ron #MattGaetzIsADrunkenTool pic.twitter.com/TBFU6gyRsD
— Unintentional Drama Magnet Tara Dublin (@taradublinrocks) June 14, 2020
Gaetz found few allies, but he certainly was focused....
...on sparring with a 70-year-old movie and television star on Twitter.
Matt, ya really wanna keep going? I been schoolin ya all day, I'll school ya all night! LMK. https://t.co/C3aVDbqOpn
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 14, 2020
Ya know what, you're right. A guy who wins a totally gerrymandered district with daddy's money deserves our deepest admiration. You're right..I only PLAY scumbags and grifters. You're the real deal! @mattgaetz
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 14, 2020
Try again? Dude, you brought a Holocaust denier to the State Of The Union. Doesn't get sicker than that. Buzz off punk, it's past your bedtime. https://t.co/mFRiR9I2jw
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 15, 2020
PS: You're lucky for this guy Matt. If it weren't for him you'd be the ugliest politician walking. @mattgaetz pic.twitter.com/uUgUDKHgZA
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 15, 2020
I'm loving this. 🤣 Matt didn't realize who he was messing with. pic.twitter.com/7Dbcc8utNV
— Pernickety Panda (@PernicketyPanda) June 15, 2020
New video exposes Matt Gaetz for using disinformation & chaos to stay in power.
It's time for change.
Help us defeat Matt Gaetz here: https://t.co/FWd5yNNyZp pic.twitter.com/iDA01PRd6o
— Trump Crisis (@RWTrollPatrol) June 15, 2020
Soon, another Republican lawmaker decided to try to "own" Perlman because nothing else is going on in the United States that might require Congressmen's attentions.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas—via Canada—decided to pay Perlman to wrestle Ohio GOP Representative Jim Jordan.
Listen Hellboy. You talk good game when you've got Hollywood makeup & stuntmen. But I'll bet $10k—to the nonpolitical charity of your choice—that you couldn't last 5 min in the wrestling ring w/ @Jim_Jordan w/o getting pinned. You up for it? Or does your publicist say too risky? https://t.co/eRerYVe5kj
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 15, 2020
Perlman made short work of Cruz as well.
Wait, is this THEE Ted Cruz? Holy shit man! Is this the same guy let little Donnie call his wife A dog and his father an assassin and now kisses his ass? Yo, can I get your autograph man? https://t.co/6QDwCaEkpv
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 15, 2020
Perlman alluded to Cruz's fealty to Trump even after the final stages of the 2016 Republican primary as the two vied for the Presidential nomination. Trump insulted the appearance of Cruz's wife and amplified conspiracy theories that Cruz's father played a role in the JFK assassination.
He then reminded Canadian born Senator Cruz that Representative Jordan would probably prefer no one mention his connection to wrestling and the sexual abuse and assault of wrestlers under his supervision at Ohio State.
@perlmutations/Twitter
@perlmutations/Twitter
Let's get back to bidness ted. jim jordan's too easy, just a little bitch. But you teddy, you talk shit about New York every chance you get. My hometown. It's personal. Let's go mofo!
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) June 15, 2020
In Republicans' attempts to own Perlman, they only received further ridicule.
Maybe Gym Jordan can watch and not say anything, he's good at that :(
— supremeMilo (@supremeMilo) June 15, 2020
Ted Cruz volunteering someone else to fight is so on-brand cowardly for him.
Ron, you should offer to Box Ted Cruz instead. I have $10 that says he won't reply or weasel out.
— RadiomanATL (@RadiomanATL) June 15, 2020
I'm English so forgive me if I'm dumb but from what I learn from the news.... isnt ted Cruz supposed to be..a politician? Is this what they do now?😳😳
— Maria Waters (@velvetmoulin75) June 15, 2020
Only in America can Canadian born Cuban latino grow up to be a conservative white supremacist senator
— David Stephenson (@stephend50) June 15, 2020
Hey as a Canadian...I am beyond thankful you took him. We don't want his bs attitude, flip flopping ways and his face full of trumps shit here.
— amanda (@georgianbaygirl) June 15, 2020
You sure you don't want him back? You know, FedEx, UPS, USPS, all do next day deliveries and we could have him boxed up and ready to ship out pretty darn quickly. I mean, I really do love Canada and all, but if he was originally yours...
— Extinction Level Event Publishing, LLC (JK) (@newsstandpromos) June 15, 2020
Now seems like a good time to elect more women.