President-elect Donald Trump’s choice of Rep. Matt Gaetz as U.S. attorney general has left both Senate Republicans and Democrats surprised and skeptical about his chances of being confirmed. Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally, faces resistance from within his party, with some Republicans expressing concerns over his suitability for the role and a pending House Ethics investigation.
Senate Republicans voiced doubts about Gaetz’s nomination. Sen. Lisa Murkowski dismissed it as “not serious,” and Sen. Joni Ernst noted the challenges Gaetz would face to win enough votes. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Judiciary Committee, highlighted the ethical inquiries surrounding Gaetz, acknowledging they would likely arise during the confirmation process.
Sen. Susan Collins mentioned that the Ethics Committee investigation would inevitably be part of the Senate’s scrutiny, while Sen. Kevin Cramer deemed Gaetz’s chances as “a long shot,” suggesting Trump might be testing Senate boundaries.
On the Democratic side, reactions ranged from disbelief to humor. Sen. Chris Coons admitted he was “speechless,” and Sen. Richard Blumenthal questioned Gaetz’s qualifications. Sen. John Fetterman called the nomination an attempt at “God-tier level trolling” and said he wouldn’t take it seriously.
House Republicans had mixed responses, with Rep. Mike Simpson voicing shock and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressing concerns over Trump pulling too many members from the GOP’s slim House majority. Rep. Max Miller, also a Republican, called the nomination “silly” and doubted Gaetz would be confirmed.
In summary, Gaetz’s nomination by Trump has prompted skepticism from both parties, raising questions about the confirmation’s viability and Trump’s motivations.
