Conservatism is about preserving traditions and resisting sudden change.
Yet several prominent right-wing figures expressed a starkly different view at this year’s Republican Party convention in Milwaukee.
Kimberly Guilfoyle, the fiancée of Donald Trump Jr., has been accused of having plastic surgery after she looked unrecognizable during her time as a liberal, when she was married to Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom.
Firebrand Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz has also been accused of getting Botox and other cosmetic modifications after undergoing a radical facial transformation. One of Gaetz’s rival Republicans compared him to a “blow-up doll.”
Donald Trump himself is also rumored to have undergone treatments to improve his appearance, including multiple hair transplants.
Pictured above is Matt Gaetz, who drew attention when he appeared at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday for his overarching eyebrows. He is pictured on the left in 2018
Other Republicans, George Santos and former Speaker Ronna McDaniel, who are not expected to attend this year’s convention, have also been hit by rumors of an operation.
Guilfoyle sparked speculation about her appearance this week when she appeared on stage at the party convention to loudly endorse Trump.
Celebrity plastic surgeon Dr Gary Motykie told DailyMail.com he believes the 55-year-old woman likely experimented with fillers because her cheeks appeared much fuller than they had in previous public appearances.
“She’s lost a lot of weight,” he said, “and when you lose weight as you get older, you tend to look thinner.”
‘But that’s not the case with her, which makes me suspicious of fillers, which were used to make her cheeks much fuller.’
He also suggested that the former Fox News personality had lip fillers because her lips had stayed the same size over time, rather than getting smaller as they normally do as someone ages.
Responding to her online appearance, one person said: ‘Guilfoyle really needs to tone it down [plastic surgery] for a while’.
A second added: ‘She has undoubtedly had the mandatory plastic surgery required to be part of the Trump clan.’
Social media was abuzz with memes as Florida Congressman Gaetz took the stage, with many people immediately shocked by his high eyebrows and ultra-smooth skin.
Pictured above is Kimberly Guilfoyle in 2017 (left) and at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday. A top surgeon suggested she had fillers in her midface and lips
Dr Motykie said the 42-year-old had the “classic” surprised look of someone who’d had too much Botox, likening his look to Spok’s eyebrows from Star Trek.
“A common mistake that some of these people make is they think, ‘Oh, I want to look great for the RNC,’ and then they get Botox or fillers a week or two beforehand,” Dr. Motykie said.
“The problem is that it doesn’t always set in time, which means they can look puffy or overcooked at the convention, but look more natural two weeks later.”
Dr. Michael Salzhauer, a Florida plastic surgeon also known as Dr. Miami, agreed that Gaetz likely got the shots just days before the convention.
He also suggested to the Miami New Times that Gaetz’s bizarre eyebrows could be the result of a brow lift — where the eyebrows are raised to reduce wrinkles — and eyebrow plucking — or a method of removing hairs from the eyebrows.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Gary Motykie said Gaetz’s arched eyebrows reminded him of those on Spok in Star Trek
Evidence for Botox included the fact that he no longer had lines on his forehead and that if it is too heavy on some muscles and too light on others, it can cause his eyebrows to take on the bizarre, “exaggerated” and “feminine-looking” shape that Gaetz has.
Wisconsin Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden jumped on the Internet hype surrounding Gaetz’s appearance, comparing the Florida native to a sex doll.
“RNC to debut first AI-powered inflatable sex doll as national convention speaker,” Van Orden chided X, alongside an unflattering photo of Gaetz (R-Fla.) during the speech.
Another viewer said on X: ‘He looks like he’s wearing a mask on his own face. That gives the lizard people conspiracy theorists a lot to think about.’
A second said, “Matt Gaetz (R-Botox),” and a third added, “Wow. That Botox and filler is FRESH.”
And a third said his eyebrows looked like he was preparing for a performance on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Pictured above is former Republican Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, who has been accused of receiving filler. She has yet to appear at the Republican National Convention
Pictured above is disgraced former Republican Congressman George Santos, who was previously accused of getting fillers and Botox
Previously, embattled Congressman George Santos was accused of getting Botox and fillers in his lips and cheeks.
Former Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel was previously accused of getting cheek and lip augmentation after losing weight.
And it’s not just Republicans. Plastic surgery has become increasingly popular in recent years among politicians of all stripes, Dr. Motykie said.
The goal is to appear more youthful and stronger and convince voters that they are still fit for the job.
Democratic leaders like Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi appear to have undergone plastic surgery.