George Santos says he was drag queen Kitara Ravache ‘for a day’ when he was 18 and wears ‘far more makeup today’ as he doesn’t rule out new run for Congress and boasts he’ll ‘outlive’ colleagues who expelled him
Former Rep. George Santos confirmed he was drag queen Kitara Ravache “for a day” and told comedian Ziwe in a new interview on Monday that he wears a lot more makeup now.
Santos, who was expelled from Congress earlier this month, spoke with the online personality about pop culture, his political future and rapped a few bars from a Nicki Minaj song.
He teased that his political career might not be bright and told Ziwe he would consider running for Congress again.
“Not now, but I wouldn't rule it out in the future,” the New York Republican said. Later in the interview he added: 'I'll be back. I'm 35. They're all in their 50s. I will outlive them. Piece by piece.'
Ziwe responded, “This is so threatening, I feel threatened and I'm not even in the House of Representatives,” to which Santos let out a maniacal laugh.
Former Rep. George Santosn (left) said in an interview released Monday that when he was 18, he was drag queen Kitara Ravanche (right) for “a day.” He told comedian Ziwe that he wears a lot more makeup now
The ousted lawmaker sat down with comedian Ziwe (right) for a nearly 17-minute interview released Monday in which they discussed politics and pop culture
At the beginning of the interview, Ziwe brought up how Santos was accused of lying to the American people, which she addressed, asking, “How long do you think it will be before you get called up to Dancing with the Stars?” '
“I'll pass,” Santos replied.
“I don't want to be Sean Spicer, let's just call it that,” the ex-congressman added when Ziwe asked if he would call Spicer, the former White House press secretary, for advice.
The former lawmaker struggled through some of the questioning about civil rights leaders — following comments he made months ago comparing himself to Rosa Parks.
“Rosa Parks, believe it or not, is one of my favorite political figures,” Santos said.
When Ziwe asked why she didn't want to believe Santos added, “I had a portrait of her in my office, I think that speaks for itself.”
During Monday's interview, Santos walked back his personal Parks comparison.
“I used an analogy,” he said with a sigh. 'I'm not like Rosa Parks. Come on. I've never been able to measure it. Let's put it this way.'
After answering questions about civil rights leaders, including gay activists Marsha P. Johnson and Harvey Milk, Santos told Ziwe that Saturday Night Live's Bowen Yang “deserves an EGOT” for portraying the New York Republican on the show.
When Ziwe asked if Santos Yang would like to see him star in an HBO biopic, the ex-lawmaker replied, “That movie will never happen.”
'The book has no perspective on me or anyone close to me. It's fucking fiction,” Santos added.
He was referring to the book The Fabulist: the lying, hustling, robbing, stealing and very American legend of George Santos by Mark Chiusano.
Ziwe noted that Santos “seemed to like fiction” and at another point during the sit-down called him a “messy b***h who lives for drama.”
'You can call me a messy b***h, I've been called worse. But I'll take it. Can you make a pin and send it to me?' Santos asked. “I'll wear your trashy bitch pin every day.”
Ziwe agreed as long as Santos reported the donation on his taxes.
'Certainly. “I like paying taxes,” he replied.
Santos was then asked which other members of Congress were “frauds.”
He said no to Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz.
He answered yes to Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Sen. Lindsey Graham and Sen. Bob Menendez.
He blamed Rep. Dan Goldman, a New York Democrat and top critic of Santos in the House of Representatives, for not renting him.
Goldman was sued earlier this month for unpaid rent by a New York City landlord.
Santos said he remained a Republican but was open to becoming politically independent in the future.
“Because I think the country needs more independent thinkers now,” Santos explained.
When Ziwe said “like Jill Stein” — the Green Party presidential candidate accused of playing a spoiler in the 2016 presidential election — Santos pushed back.
“No, that is a Russian asset according to Hillary Clinton and I believe Hillary on that issue,” the Republican replied.
When Ziwe asked Santos what he was an asset to, he replied “nobody.”
He was also not interested in changing political parties, he said.
“I love Gen-Z. Generation Z loves Trump. They love Trump. He is an icon,” Santos claimed.
Ziwe asked Santos if Kitara Ravache was his drag personality.
'For one day. For one day when I was 18 years old,” Santos replied. “Look, if I was a drag queen then, as everyone likes to say, then I must be a drag queen myth now, because I'm wearing a lot more makeup these days than I am in that photo.”
Ziwe then asked if Santos still believed that drag queens were more dangerous to children than guns.
“I like drag queens, let's get things straight: I don't like drag queens for kids,” he replied.
Santos reiterated this, adding, “I still think drag queens are not for kids.”
Santos was also asked about his fashion and what work he has done.
'I underwent Ozempic treatment for A1C reasons and subsequently lost 50 kilos. Botox, yes since I'm 25. Fillers since I was 25. I will never deny it,” Santos said.
“I've always worked, Ziwe,” Santos replied when asked how he paid for it.
Santos said he was wearing his signature Ferragamo shoes and revealed that a Hermes bracelet he wore was a gift from his husband Matt.
'I don't actually own any Hermes stuff, except for the Hermes fragrance I wear. Oh no, and the bracelet,” Santos said, laughing. “This was a gift from my husband.”
Ziwe asked if his man was “the American people.” “Is it a metaphor?” she asked.
'No, my husband. Matt,” Santos said, adding a “not” when Ziwe asked for his last name.
“You could have just said Santos, and that would have been less suspicious than Matt no-name,” Ziwe said.