There was little love lost from Senate Republicans over former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s abrupt withdrawal Thursday as President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general nominee.
The eight-day nomination, a brief stint that made it the third-shortest for a Cabinet seat in U.S. history, was plagued by GOP warnings that the polarizing Republican firebrand with a checkered past of sexual misconduct allegations had virtually no path to confirmation.
“He was in the pressure cooker, and he made his decision,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), a Judiciary Committee member whose panel holds attorney general confirmation hearings. “I’d like to think we’re demonstrating our efficiency.”
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a close Trump ally but a former House member who sparred with Gaetz over his involvement in ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, praised it as “a positive move.”
“I think because of the reports that were coming out, it was probably a good decision,” Mullin said, describing the confirmation process for Gaetz as an “uphill battle.”
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“I think what Matt decided to do here was the decision he had to come to, and it was probably a positive decision for the administration,” he added.
Gaetz’s move came just one day after he and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance lobbied Republican senators and strategized with allies on Capitol Hill amid an unpublished House Ethics Committee report handicapping his nomination. Despite what appeared to be a softening image of Gaetz among GOP senators in the face of allegations he paid women for sex and had sex with minors, Gaetz concluded his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction.”
GOP senators who met with him said there was no forewarning of his withdrawal.
“I had excellent meetings with senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback — and the incredible support of so many,” Gaetz wrote on X. “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.”
Gaetz, who resigned from the House last week shortly after his attorney general nomination, denied the sexual misconduct allegations and any wrongdoing.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), a centrist up for reelection in 2026, said Gaetz “put country first” by dropping out, and she was “pleased with his decision.”
“I was not going to make a final decision until after the hearing because you never know what’s going to come out,” she said. “But certainly, there were a lot of red flags.”
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) foreshadowed that Gaetz’s pathway “would have been problematic.”
Senate Democrats were also pleased with the revelation, though some were skeptical Gaetz would survive politically until confirmation hearings commence in January.
“Maybe I don’t give a s**t because it was never gonna happen,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) said. “But if you guys want to troll with it, it’s up to you. Pick your trolls! Pick your trolls!”
The fate of the sought-after House Ethics Committee report is uncertain after Republicans on the panel blocked its release. House Democrats are now seeking to compel votes with privileged legislation that would force its disclosure.
The White House declined to comment on Gaetz. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Biden administration “really, truly want to respect the transfer of power.”
Senate Republicans may have dodged having to stake out a position on Gaetz. However, it doesn’t mean he’s out of their lives for good.
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With Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) tapped as Trump’s secretary of state nominee, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) will be tasked with choosing the senator’s replacement. Although DeSantis and Gaetz have a fraught relationship, choosing him as Rubio’s successor would be a popular move in “MAGAworld.”
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) appeared to be an outlier among the reaction to his fellow Floridian, who said he was “disappointed” by the news. He name-checked Gaetz and Lara Trump, the president-elect’s daughter-in-law and co-chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, as possible Rubio replacements.
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Republicans who met with Gaetz on Wednesday, including Sen. John Neely Kennedy (R-LA), expressed surprise that Gaetz’s decision came so soon after their meeting.
“I have some thoughts” on who Trump should nominate next for attorney general, Kennedy said. “But I don’t want to condemn their chances.”
Christian Datoc contributed to this report.