Raised in Wichita, Kansas, Matt Schlapp is the son of Susan Schlapp, a former city councilwoman who, after eight years of service on the Wichita City Council (2003-2011), became the senior constituent liaison for the Kansas Department of Commerce under Governor Sam Brownback.

[3] Schlapp began his political career in 1994 and worked five years as a press secretary, campaign manager, and chief of staff for Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS).

During Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, Schlapp helped organize and was the on-site leader of the protest which became known as the Brooks Brothers riot.

[18] Schlapp signed the Madrid Charter, a document drafted by the conservative Spanish political party Vox that describes left-wing groups as enemies of Ibero-America involved in a "criminal project" that are "under the umbrella of the Cuban regime".

After his wife left the White House and joined the unsuccessful Trump reelection campaign, his lobbying fees sharply declined and his CPAC compensation became $600,000 annually.

[21] In August 2023, The Daily Beast reported[24] that Schlapp had attempted to settle the lawsuit against him for a six-figure sum.

[25] Earlier that month, two additional allegations of sexual assault by Schlapp against male staffers were reported by The Washington Post.

"Schlapp allegedly followed around and stood close to multiple groups of men in a Virginia bar, making them uncomfortable.

[34] They co-founded Cove Strategies, a communications and political consulting firm based in Alexandria, Virginia.