Two people familiar with the matter said Gaetz tried to schedule a visit with Trump after it was first revealed that he was being investigated, but the request was rejected by aides close to the former President, who have urged Trump not to stick his neck out to defend Gaetz. Harlan Hill, a spokesman for Gaetz, said the congressman did not request a meeting with Trump this week... Meanwhile, Gaetz's appearance on Friday at a conference for pro-Trump women raised eyebrows inside the former President's orbit. Aides saw his last-minute speech at the Women for America First event, which was held at the nearby Trump National Doral resort, as a blatant attempt to reach Trump and his supporters. A person directly involved with Trump's post-presidential operation said the ex-President's aides "were under the impression that Gaetz went down there to try and run into Trump or people around him."