Two-day old cheetah cubs. Adrienne Crosier/Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute

We couldn’t help but squee at the recent pictures of the National Zoo’s newest cheetah cubs. While they may eventually become ruthless—and incredibly fast—killing machines, right now they’re adorable enough to make us want to call them our own.

We’re apparently not the only ones taken by the cheetahs, though. Former Republican presidential contender Newt Gingrich took an early-morning stroll through the zoo today and commented on them:

Who knew that Newt had a soft spot in his heart for cheetah cubs and federally funded government institutions?