President-elect Donald Trump has responded to Matt Gaetz withdrawing his name as Attorney General only a week after he was nominated for the position. In a shocking turnaround, Gaetz wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday that he was withdrew his name from consideration because his confirmation “was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” He believes that “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.” Here’s how Trump has reacted to this unexpected withdrawal from Gaetz.
How did Trump react to Matt Gaetz withdrawing as an Attorney General nominee?
In a post on social media, Trump shared his support for Matt Gaetz withdrawing as his pick for Attorney General, nothing that he “greatly” appreciates his efforts in seeking approval for the position.
Trump says that Gaetz has his respect for not wanting “to be a distraction for the Administration,” believing that the former Congressman has a “wonderful future.”
Gaetz’s nomination as Attorney General, per CBS News, has come under scrutiny after allegations of his sexual misconduct and illicit drug use resurfaced. The House Ethics Committee has investigated these allegations for over a year and was set to meet several days after Trump nominated him for Attorney General to discuss whether it should release its report.
Both Republican and Democratic senators have pushed the Ethics Committee to disclose this report before his confirmation hearing in early 2025. It’s unclear whether this will come to pass after his withdrawal announcement.
In a CNN report, a woman testified to the Ethics Committee that she was a minor when she had sex with Matt Gaetz in two encounters at a party in 2017. Gaetz has repeatedly denied having sex with a minor, and he did not face charges from the Justice Department after it investigated the matter.
One GOP aide in a comment to The New York Post predicted earlier that Gaetz would not be confirmed as Attorney General by the Senate. The aide believes that his withdrawal is “all a play to become a martyr to boost [Gaetz’s 2026] gubernatorial prospects” in Florida.
