MAGA rising star's vacations with top aide quietly fueling rumors: ex-GOP strategist

A rising MAGA star's vacations with one of his top aides are quietly fueling rumors, according to a former Republican strategist.

In a recent episode of The Bulwark Podcast, Tim Miller spoke with political reporter Will Sommer about rumors spreading regarding MAGA Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) and his relationship with his senior aide, Will Hannen.

Miller explained that stories broke earlier this week, citing two sources who say that Hannen is living with Hamadeh at his Capitol Hill residence, and the two have gone on vacations together.

"Sources say the relationship is a little closer than the typical member-staffer dynamic," Miller explained. "It's led to a lot of questions about what's exactly happening there."

Miller noted, "I don't actually know if Abe's made any official statements about his sexuality, but he's not openly gay. So we don't exactly know what's happening."

Still, the rumors "are kind of the buzz out there in MAGA" circles, as Hamadeh is "a rising star of the MAGA wing. He is very much of the MAGA Trump era within the party."

Sommer admitted that the rumors about Hamadeh were "a surprise to me," but he added that Hannen was Hamadeh's "highest paid congressional staffer, who's now with his campaign" for re-election.

"He was unreachable when he was on vacation with this guy," Sommer said. "So I think there's a lot of smoke here. We'll have to see if there's fire."