In a bold move that has rattled Capitol Hill, President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a staunch MAGA ally, for attorney general, placing Senate Republicans in a challenging position. The decision, announced just days after Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to consider recess appointments to speed up confirmations, has ignited debate within the GOP.
Gaetz’s nomination is a calculated test for Thune, whose Senate majority will have only a slim 53 seats in the new Congress , allowing him to lose no more than three Republican votes if he hopes to secure Gaetz’s confirmation. While the nomination has garnered significant backlash, the White House has hinted that Trump could circumvent the Senate by making Gaetz a recess appointment, allowing him to serve as acting attorney general without formal confirmation.
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In an afternoon conference meeting, House Republicans reacted with audible surprise to Trump’s announcement, multiple sources revealed, as per a report from Axios. Senators who would ultimately vote on the nomination expressed a mix of skepticism and outright opposition. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) voiced her concerns about bypassing Senate checks, saying, “This shows why the advice and consent process is so important, and I’m sure that there will be a lot of questions raised at his hearing.” Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) openly questioned the nomination, labeling Gaetz “not a serious candidate,” while Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) noted that Gaetz has “got his work really cut out for him” to pass Senate scrutiny.
For Thune, this is a high-stakes moment. Even some of Trump’s allies, like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), hesitated to endorse Gaetz’s appointment, with Graham saying he needed time to “think about that one.” Thune now faces a decision: push for a thorough confirmation process or accept the likelihood of a recess appointment that could strain relations within the GOP.
Gaetz’s past makes matters more complicated
Adding further complexity, Gaetz recently resigned from his House seat, and he carries a history of scrutiny. A House ethics investigation had been conducted for allegations of misconduct, and the Justice Department previously investigated him for possible sex trafficking, though he was not charged. If confirmed, Gaetz would oversee the very department that once investigated him.
Thune, trying to manage expectations, noted, “We’re going to vet and process and look at all the noms when they come forward, and we’ll see. That’s all going to happen in the next few weeks.” With Senate Republicans divided and the clock ticking, Trump’s nomination of Gaetz may reveal deeper fault lines within the GOP, testing the limits of party unity on the road ahead.
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