Because of the MAGA’s overwhelming national and worldwide support, an entire community of anti-establishment voices has gained substantial followings on social media. While many of these talking heads are well-intentioned and generally help the MAGA cause, some push their own agenda and take self-serving actions that undermine the cause.
One of these individuals is Matthew Taylor, known as “Matt the Welder” on his social media accounts. Pushing himself as a crusader against corruption, Taylor has embarked on a run to be the next Florida Commissioner of Agriculture.
Taylor, an aspiring actor and comedian, states that he is a man of the people who will prioritize protecting the land and natural resources ahead of development for the people of Florida, an appealing message, at least superficially, for native Floridians who are seeing their state endure growing pains amidst the waves of transplants seeking refuge from blue-state calamity.
Taylor’s populist rhetoric against development borders on anti-capitalist and would be catastrophic if realized. There is already a national housing crisis with Gen Z and millennials being aggressively priced out of the market. Taylor advocates for “growth management laws” to halt development. Restricting the supply of housing will cause prices to rise further, which does not seem to concern Taylor as he couches his rhetoric in vague platitudes about his “love of the land” meant to woo voters.
Even though Taylor claims to love the land of Florida and supposedly speaks for the state’s long-time residents, he does not even live in Florida himself. Taylor is a West Virginia resident, moving out of Florida earlier in the year after he and his wife sold their home. Taylor is claiming to have the residency requirements needed in order to run for Agricultural Commissioner through a convoluted rationale that he hopes will keep him from being investigated.
Taylor ran as an independent for Florida county commission seat in 2024, attempting to take on both major political parties even if it would hurt the Republican chance of victory because of the vote-splitting possibilities. Thankfully, that did not happen. Taylor’s erratic political actions should come as no surprise when examining his personal history. On Nov. 8 2024, Taylor was detained after a mental health episode where his wife reportedly alleged he was threatening self-harm and acting unstable, claims which he addressed in a TikTok video.
Most alarmingly of all, Taylor has a past in amateur pornography, recording himself in at least one video indicating his humiliation fetish. He posted an S&M pornographic video on the platform Masturfap titled: “Femdom wife me to use a toy on camera????”. The video is still live on the platform and can be accessed here. ***WARNING: VERY EXPLICIT CONTENT***
There are many red flags when it comes to Taylor’s candidacy that makes him unqualified and perhaps ineligible to serve as the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. He appears to be a MAGA influencer looking to capitalize on the success of his social media following to gain the notoriety that he has failed to achieve in the fields of acting, comedy and pornography. Florida voters would be wise to steer clear of Taylor in the midterm primaries.
