George Santos said Congress is “all f**king Kabuki theater,” and his own downfall shows why trust in Washington keeps collapsing.
Story Snapshot
- Santos called Congress performative during a podcast, blasting both parties as fake.
- House investigators found substantial evidence he lied and misused campaign money.
- The House expelled Santos in a rare, bipartisan vote after the report.
- The Department of Justice said Santos later pleaded guilty to broad fraud schemes.
What Santos Claimed About Congress
George Santos used a podcast with Bill Maher to say Congress is “little more than political theater,” adding, “It’s all f**king Kabuki theater.” Reports of the September 2026 appearance quoted that line and framed his view as a swipe at the entire town’s showmanship. His attack landed because many Americans already feel Congress talks more than it acts. But the messenger’s record complicates the message. Voters remember the scandal that defined his short time in office.
Conservatives see the same pattern in Washington: big hearings, loud clips, and little relief on prices, the border, or crime. Santos’s harsh line echoed that frustration. He said the system rewards media hits over real work. That rings true to people watching endless sound bites while their bills rise. Still, his words are not proof on their own. They reflect one fallen lawmaker’s view, not a full audit of how Congress operates day to day.
What The Record Shows About Santos
The House Committee on Ethics found substantial evidence that Santos caused false or incomplete reports to the election regulator, used donor money for himself, and engaged in fraudulent conduct tied to a private firm. It also found violations of the Ethics in Government Act. The official report described a pattern that broke faith with voters and donors, and it laid out specifics that went beyond sloppy paperwork. That is why the findings carried weight across party lines.
After the report, the House took a historic step. Members voted to expel Santos in a bipartisan tally. Expulsion is rare and signals conduct far outside the norm. The vote followed months of review and closed the door on his time in Congress. The message from the institution was clear: his behavior was not acceptable. Many conservatives agreed with the punishment while also asking why other proven abuses in Washington so often go unpunished.
Federal Criminal Case And Guilty Plea
The Department of Justice later announced Santos pleaded guilty. Prosecutors said he admitted he filed fake election reports, embezzled donor money, charged cards without permission, stole identities, took unemployment benefits by fraud, and lied in reports to the House of Representatives. A separate sentencing release said he and an associate inflated fundraising numbers to mislead the election regulator, a national party group, and the public. Those facts make his credibility a major issue when he blasts Congress.
Critics argue the record shows Santos cannot be trusted, pointing to the ethics report and the plea. They say a man who lied to donors cannot lead a reform talk. That argument has force. At the same time, many Americans do not need Santos to tell them Washington plays to the cameras. They see “show votes,” late-night bills no one reads, and hearings that chase clicks. The right response is not to dismiss concerns, but to fix the incentives that reward theater over results.
What Matters For Patriots Going Forward
Taxpayers want action that lowers costs, secures the border, defends the Constitution, and protects families. Committees should post bills for days, not hours, before votes. Members should swear off fake “messaging bills” that never become law. Leadership should force open rules so real amendments get a vote. Sunlight and simple rules beat spin every time. Those steps curb showmanship and make it harder for grifters to hide behind the noise.
President Trump’s administration can help by pushing agencies to publish plain-English summaries of rules, ending secretive guidance, and reporting how each rule affects prices, jobs, and energy. Congress can pass single-subject bills so voters know what they are buying. Americans are done with the circus. Whether Santos’s words came from spite or experience, the fix is the same: cut the theater, enforce ethics evenly, and do the work the people sent you to do.
Sources:
townhall.com, thegatewaypundit.com, pbs.org, justice.gov, congress.gov
