On Thursday, former Congressman Matt Gaetz (Fla.) announced he is withdrawing from consideration to be the next U.S. Attorney General.
On Wednesday, Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance traveled to the Capitol to meet with Republican senators who could potentially make or break Gaetz’s nomination to serve as the nation’s next attorney general.
He wrote on X, “I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback – and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”
Trump responded to Gaetz’s withdrawal with a message on Truth Social.
I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!
Several Republican senators expressed relief to The Hill on Thursday over the news that Gaetz had dropped his bid, praising it as the right decision according.
“I think it’s a positive development,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) said he made the right decision given the serious “headwinds” he faced on Capitol Hill.
“He must have gotten some signals yesterday during conversations he was having with senators that this was going to be a distraction,” she said. “Good on him to recognize that and be self-aware.”
She said Gaetz’s decision would “provide President Trump with an opportunity to choose someone who’s equally tenacious about addressing the Department of Justice and its direction, which needs to be changed.”
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
That really bites. He would have been awesome.
hope Trump as one that is just as much as a pit bill to dislodge DC or the Brunson case is a game changer