Former President Trump shocked and appalled some Republican lawmakers on Wednesday by announcing plans to nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general.
Why it matters: Republican reaction to even Trump’s most controversial nominations has been muted so far, but placing the scandal-prone right-winger in the nation’s highest law enforcement role is a step too far for many.
“We wanted him out of the House … this isn’t what we were thinking,” quipped one House Republican, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly about Trump’s decision.
What we’re hearing: Trump’s announcement was met with audible gasps by House Republicans during a conference meeting on Wednesday afternoon, multiple sources in the room told Axios.
One House Republican in the meeting described the conference’s response as “stunned and disgusted.”
What they’re saying: “Gaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the senate,” said Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio), referring to the British monarch who died in 2022.
Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.), noting that Gaetz is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, said he would be “a compromised AG” and that “there are better choices.”
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said she was “shocked” by the pick: “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.”
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Gaetz has “got his work really cut out for him” to get confirmed.
I feel like we’re going to see a lot of “Republicans ashamed of Trump” headlines while they sign their names in blood on everything he asks for.
If they wanted to, they could simply choose not to certify the election results or they could impeach and vote to remove him.
They won’t. They’re all complicit.
They’re rightly scared of not being re-elected for daring to oppose him. Or worse.
Mark my words, you are going to see a LOT of railing against rebel Republicans from Trump. Or what few are left, anyway.
I’m pretty over believing stories about Republicans showing regret about Trump and his picks/actions. I’m 100% this is liberal media copium. Republicans love his ass and every asshole he hires
On the other hand I can see republican politicians pretending to be stunned in order to say one thing and do another. They get to pretend they don’t like it for the political game and then actually support it.
Sure.
He’ll be confirmed with no problem. They always give Trump whatever he wants.
And they lie. A lot.
Want to win a chance at maybe having power? Enter the contest by falling in line and kissing the ring.
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) said Gaetz has “got his work really cut out for him” to get confirmed.
Trump has already demanded that the Senate go into immediate recess so he can avoid the confirmation process altogether and just appoint them through recess appointments.
It will go the exact same way it did during Trump’s first term: Trump will send out a mean tweet and any dissenters will fall in line. Worked 100% of the time last time.
I’m so tired. I can’t handle another four years of journalism covering the most recent crazy thing he did or proposed every hour. Just a firehose of sneaky, selfish plans and actions.
It’s only been a week since he was elected. Dude’s not even in office yet and there’s already shock and scandal coming from his own party. This is going to be a very long four years…
As designed by the media. Eternal despair is great for viewership.
I’ve been saying what will keep me alive the next four years is reminding Trump voters they are getting what they voted for every time they start to complain.
But, four years of even Republicans having to fight tooth and nail against his insanity would be even better.
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Remember. According to Susan Collins, he learned his lesson with his first impeachment so he won’t do corruption and crime stuff again. Because Trump pinky swore. Or something.
Of course she’ll rubber stamp it.
You mean Trump didn’t learn his lesson?!?
Hey pedophiles stick together
Why in the world would Republicans think that Trump would make sensible appointments? What has he done in the past, that would make them think this?
Sorry, dear Americans we in Europe can’t take all of you. Our borders are closed now. Steve Bannon once told us to do so. Sorry!
Thune (just chosen as the new Senate majority leader) has already agreed to recess the Senate so that Trump could appoint whoever he wants without going through the confirmation process by using the recess appointment process. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recess_appointment
Spineless
No they aren’t.
They voted for it and they wanted this.
Gaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the senate,"
Dem senators should help confirm him to help Trump show the nation he wants to burn everything down.
No, they aren’t. Quit lying.
They might be, right now.
See, there’s plenty of time before they actually have to cast a vote. So I’m sure that means Trump will send some mean tweets out about them. And then they’ll make the pligrimage down to Mar-a-Lago, bend the knee, say 3 Hail Donalds as penance and promise to insult a brown person on their way out before returning to Washington, DC and voting to confirm him.
Elect a clown, expect a circus.
Common guys, we’ve already been through this.
