- Sign up HERE to our DC Insider newsletter - your guide to what's rocking Washington, rattling the White House and setting tongues wagging on the Hill
By SAMANTHA LOREN, US POLITICAL REPORTER
asserted
tongues → sign → LOREN
These days, former New York Congressman George Santos can be found jumping out of helicopters, swimming in muddy water and whatever else Special Forces: World's Toughest Test throws his way.
asserted
Test → find → way
Indeed, far away from the Hill, Santos has found a different kind of spotlight: he is part of the 15-celebrity cohort participating in season five of the reality show, in which both physical strength and mental fortitude are put to the test during intense military-style challenges in Malaysia.
asserted
strength → find → Malaysia
But despite the expelled House Republican insisting he is now 'so done with politics,' he did not hold back when sharing his election prognosis for the party with the Daily Mail.
asserted
he → expel → Mail
With the midterms just a month away, Santos claimed that two Republican candidates have begged for his help to break into showbusiness because they don't expect to survive November.
asserted
they → claim → November
'I won't say the candidate, obviously, but there are two candidates who essentially said, "George, if you can hook me up with some of your entertainment people, because there's no way I can survive this election,"' Santos, 38, said.
asserted
Santos → say → election
'And I'm nervous because one of the candidates, I like that person a lot.'
asserted
I → like → person
Santos warned that Republicans face an uphill battle even in traditionally red turf like Texas, Florida and Ohio, where Democrats are proving competitive.
asserted
Democrats → warn → Texas
Santos claimed that two Republican candidates have begged for his help to break into showbusiness
Santos warned that Republicans face an uphill battle even in traditionally red turf like Texas, Florida and Ohio, where Democrats are proving competitive
But
asserted
Democrats → claim → Texas
Santos blames neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance, but House Speaker Mike Johnson.
asserted
Santos → blame → Trump
'There's things Congress can do right now to help on energy costs.
asserted
Congress → be → costs
And Speaker Johnson doesn't seem too keen on pushing it,' Santos said.
asserted
Santos → seem → it
'Recessing earlier doesn't help with the narrative and with the optics of it all.'
asserted
Recessing → recess → it
He floated a possible new Republican leader-in-waiting if the GOP is toppled this November.
asserted
GOP → float → waiting
'It looks like [Representative] Jim Jordan is trying to make a move there,' Santos said.
asserted
Santos → look → move
'It looks like there's real issues for Speaker Johnson, even if he does retain the House, to remain with the gavel.'
asserted
he → look → gavel
In fact, Santos said he would rather see the 'entire leadership' replaced, floating his ideal candidates for speaker of the house: Florida congresswomen Laurel Lee, or Anna Paulina Luna, who he says has Freedom Caucus backing and would be the first female Republican speaker.
asserted
he → say → backing
He also spoke candidly when revealing his unbridled opinions on House Republicans, blasting National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson as 'incompetent.'
He also said Majority Leader Steve Scalise has been in leadership far too long: 'Go be senator.
asserted
Scalise → speak → leadership
I don't care.'
asserted
I → care → ?
Scalise, who has been in House Republican leadership for more than 12 years, became the majority leader in January 2023 following his three-year stint as minority whip.
asserted
who → become → whip
Hudson, Scalise and Johnson's offices did not respond to the Daily Mail requests for comment.
asserted
offices → respond → comment
'It looks like there's real issues for Speaker Johnson (pictured), even if he does retain the House, to remain with the gavel,' Santos said
'It looks like [Representative] Jim Jordan (pictured) is trying to make a move there,' Santos said
Santos also admitted he is 'terrified' of a Democratic Socialist surge.
'I think this whole socialist sweep across New York was scary,' he said.
asserted
he → be → York
'I'm not saying it to be boogie.
asserted
it → say → ?
I don't do the fear mongering anymore.'
asserted
I → do → mongering
Namely, he said the election of Democratic Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York City was the reason he moved out of his home state.
asserted
he → say → state
'Mamdani's not for me,' Santos said.
asserted
Santos → say → me
And I'm actually disappointed that the president gives him so much air.
asserted
president → give → air
If I didn't see it, I would have told you, stop lying, you're making this up.
asserted
you → see → this
Indeed, Mamdani and Trump have developed an at times chummy relationship over the last year – despite the mayor's ruthless attacks of the president during his campaign.
asserted
Mamdani → develop → campaign
Trump, too, has been vocal about his criticism of Mamdani online, previously writing on Truth Social that the mayor was 'destroying' the city.
asserted
mayor → write → city
The unlikely pair have met multiple times, including most recently in New York City at Gracie Mansion, where the president said he hoped Mamdani would be a 'great' mayor.
asserted
Mamdani → meet → Mansion
Mamdani, in turn, also spoke fondly of the commander-in-chief, emphasizing his appreciation for being able to work together.
asserted
Mamdani → speak → appreciation
Santos also shared his distaste for the chummy relationship Trump and Mamdani have now forged
Santos is on the newest season of Special Forces: World's Toughest Test
Santos is also embroiled in a fresh scandal of his own.
Three years ago, he was expelled from the House after a damning House Ethics report concluded he spent campaign funds on personal expenses like Botox, OnlyFans and Hermes.
asserted
he → share → Botox
In 2025, he was sentenced to 87 months in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, only serving just 84 days before Trump commuted his sentence that October.
asserted
Trump → sentence → sentence
But this August, the prediction market platform Kalshi permanently banned him and imposed a $71,356 penalty over trading related to whether he would attend the 2026 State of the Union.
asserted
he → ban → Union
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) separately reached a settlement with Santos over the same episode, ordering him to pay $35,000 and imposed a three-year trading ban.
asserted
Commission → reach → ban
The CFTC alleged that Santos's public statements about attending the State of the Union moved the contract's price while he held positions tied to the outcome.
Santos called the Kalshi ban a 'badge of honor' and accuses the company of using him for free publicity.
He insisted he planned to attend until a canceled flight, disrupted Amtrak service and heavy snow kept him from DC.
asserted
snow → allege → DC
He says self-betting was allowed under the rules at the time, which changed in March 2026.
asserted
which → say → March
Santos did not appeal the CFTC settlement.
asserted
Santos → appeal → settlement
He agreed to the CFTC's order and paid the $35,000, but he's preparing to face Kalshi in civil court.
asserted
he → agree → court
The Aporia
