President-elect Donald Trump has shocked Washington with two highly controversial picks; Matt Gaetz and Gabbad for key roles in his administration.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has been nominated to serve as Attorney General, while former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will lead the nation’s intelligence agencies as Director of National Intelligence.
Trump’s selection of Gaetz, a loyal ally and vocal critic of the Justice Department, has raised eyebrows across the political spectrum.
Matt Gaetz, who has no prior experience as a prosecutor, has been a staunch defender of Trump throughout the president-elect’s tenure, even going so far as to accuse the Justice Department and FBI of targeting the president and conservatives.
This selection comes after Gaetz faced an investigation by the Justice Department over sex trafficking allegations, which was eventually dropped, and an ethics probe related to the same charges, which ended when he resigned from Congress on Wednesday.
Trump’s choice of Gabbard is also controversial, particularly due to her past comments that have aligned with pro-Russian narratives, including accusing Ukraine of developing biological weapons and claiming that Russia’s concerns about NATO expansion were valid.
These views have prompted criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
In particular, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) condemned her actions as “treasonous lies [that] may well cost lives,” while others have raised concerns about her 2017 meeting with Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad.
The timing and nature of these picks have left many in Congress stunned. As House Republicans gathered Wednesday afternoon to begin leadership elections, one source described the reaction to Gaetz’s nomination as one of audible gasps.
Lawmakers expressed surprise not only at the nominations but at the challenge Trump will face in securing Senate confirmation for both appointees, particularly given the high level of scrutiny they are likely to face.
“It’ll just be interesting to see what his organic base is,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) regarding Matt Gaetz’s chances.
“At the end of the day, Congressman Gaetz, he’ll have a hearing, but I’m all about counting votes and I would think that he’s probably got some work cut out for him to get a good strong vote.”
“We’re not going to get a single Democrat vote,” Tillis added.
Gabbard, too, is expected to face significant opposition in the Senate, particularly from former intelligence officials and national security experts. Her past comments, including those promoting narratives favored by Russia, have raised alarms among many in the intelligence community.
As director of national intelligence, she would oversee the President’s Daily Brief, a critical document that summarizes intelligence gathered by the U.S. intelligence agencies for the president’s foreign policy and national security decisions.
Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) described the nominations as surreal, comparing them to “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” “It’s starting to get bizarre,” Pocan said.
“At first it just seemed like kind of standard Republican fare. And now we’re going into some interesting territory.”
He added, “It’s kind of a ‘who’s the last person you would ever imagine should be in a position?’ sort of territory.”
Despite Gaetz’s unorthodox qualifications for the position of Attorney General, including his lack of legal experience, his loyalty to Trump is undeniable.
The president-elect has expressed a desire for an attorney general who would pursue retribution against his political enemies, and Gaetz has long been one of his most ardent defenders.
Critics, however, argue that Gaetz’s loyalty to Trump might be the only qualification he brings to the table.
Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), a former Trump aide, dismissed the nomination, calling it “silly” and predicting that Matt Gaetz would face “excoriation” during the confirmation process.
“Micky Mouse would be better than Matt Gaetz,” Miller added.
Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said Gaetz was “not fit” for the role of Attorney General.
“The Attorney General of the United States must have strong judgment, moral character, and a deep respect for the law,” Himes wrote. “Matt Gaetz has none of those things.”
Trump’s history of using the Justice Department to target his political enemies, such as his calls for the arrest of special counsel Jack Smith, has raised concerns that Gaetz might do the same.
Gaetz has echoed these sentiments, regularly claiming that the government is “weaponized” against U.S. citizens and advocating for the abolition of agencies like the FBI and ATF.
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“We ought to have a full court press against this WEAPONIZED government that has been turned against our people,” Gaetz posted on social media just hours before his nomination was announced.
“And if that means ABOLISHING every one of the three letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I’m ready to get going!”
The announcement of Gaetz’s nomination has already caused political turmoil. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) expressed her shock, calling it a “shocking” nomination.
“Obviously the president has the right to nominate whomever he wishes,” Collins said, but added, “I’m sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz’s hearing, if in fact the nomination goes forward.”
The confusion deepened when House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) confirmed that Gaetz had resigned from his congressional seat immediately following the announcement.
This early resignation is uncommon and serves to expedite the process of holding a special election to replace him.
If confirmed, Gaetz would take charge of a department that only recently investigated him for possible sex trafficking offenses.
The investigation was closed without charges, but it nonetheless raises questions about his fitness for the position. Gaetz also faced an ethics investigation that was closed after his resignation on Wednesday.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), among those questioning Gaetz’s nomination, said, “I’m surprised by this particular nomination and perhaps some of the others, which, again, were not names that most of us would have thought to be out there.”
“I think out of deference to us, he issued his resignation letter effective immediately,” Johnson said, explaining the early resignation. “This will speed up the process of holding a special election to replace him.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) did not comment directly on Gaetz’s nomination but noted that “he’ll have his work cut out for him” in securing Senate approval.
With Republicans holding a slim majority in the upcoming Senate, Gaetz can afford to lose only three votes from his party, making confirmation a significant challenge.
A rank-and-file Republican in the House suggested Gaetz’s nomination was unlikely to succeed, calling it “an obvious throwaway nomination that has no chance in the Senate.”
Nonetheless, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a long-time Trump ally, expressed his support, although he acknowledged that Gaetz would face tough questions during the confirmation process.
“Confirmation hearings will be important. [Gaetz] will have some tough questions to answer,” Graham predicted.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been nominated for Secretary of State, voiced his belief that Gaetz would be confirmed.
“Presidents deserve great deference, as president [he has] a mandate and he has a right to surround himself with people he trusts, especially in a position that important,” Rubio said.
The confirmation process for Gaetz and Gabbard promises to be a highly contentious battle, and it remains unclear whether Trump will be able to secure the necessary votes to confirm his controversial choices.
