Matt Gaetz Will Not Be Attorney General After Shock Decision

Matt Gaetz has officially withdrawn from consideration for the position of Attorney General in the upcoming Trump administration.

The announcement follows a week of intense controversy after President-elect Donald Trump’s surprising declaration of his intent to nominate Gaetz for the role, which would require Senate confirmation.

Known for his bold and confrontational style, Gaetz has faced criticism from members of both parties. Additionally, he had been the subject of two investigations: one by the House Ethics Committee and another by the Justice Department, examining allegations of drug use and sexual misconduct. While the Justice Department ultimately dropped its case, details from the House inquiry were expected to surface during the confirmation process.

Gaetz addressed his decision in a post 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,” he continued.

“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I’m certain he will Save America.”

Gaetz’s future plans remain uncertain. After resigning his congressional seat the same day Trump selected him for the Attorney General nomination, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis now has the authority to appoint a replacement.

There is also speculation that Gaetz could serve in another capacity within the Trump administration, potentially in a role that does not require Senate confirmation.

Following Gaetz’s announcement, Trump shared his reaction on Truth Social, expressing gratitude for Gaetz’s efforts and optimism for his future:

“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!”

Earlier this week, while visiting a SpaceX facility, Trump suggested he was not ready to abandon Gaetz despite congressional resistance.

Reports from The Hill indicate that Gaetz may have feared he would be unable to secure confirmation. Even with Republicans holding a Senate majority in the upcoming Congress, the loss of just four votes would have derailed his appointment.