“Are You Sh*tting Me?”: Republicans React to Trump’s Matt Gaetz Pick
President-elect Donald Trump surprised Republican lawmakers on Wednesday when he chose Florida Representative Matt Gaetz to serve as his attorney general—including many of the senators needed to push through his confirmation.
The antagonistic, deeply partisan MAGA cheerleader must now earn votes from the same Republicans who reviled him for forcing out Speaker Kevin McCarthy just over a year ago. And it’s not looking like he has a lot of support.
Senator Jon Cornyn reportedly audibly snorted upon hearing news of Gaetz’s nomination. “I don’t know the man other than just his public persona,” he later told Washington Post correspondent Liz Goodwin.
Senator Susan Collins said she was “shocked” by the news of his pick, and Senator Lisa Murkowski said “this one was not on my Bingo card.” But even Trump’s biggest supporters in the chamber were surprised. “Holy cow,” said Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, adding that he too did not see this one coming.
Senator Joe Manchin said “no one could believe it” when the news broke on the Senate floor.
Politico reporter Meridith Lee Hill said she saw a House Republican laughing so hard at the pick that he began crying. “Are you shitting me?” GOP Representative Mike Simpson said. When asked if Gaetz had the character to be attorney general, he plainly said “no.”
Gaetz, one of the most outspoken MAGA representatives, has been described by his Republican colleagues in the past as a childish, “disgraceful,” and “vile” person. He is currently under a House ethics investigation for sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, after allegations that he had sex with a minor.
Whether Trump loyalists or Liz Cheney-ites, Republicans throughout Congress were shocked at Trump’s nomination of Gaetz. Perhaps Republican Senator Thom Tillis put it best: “I’m sure it’ll make for a popcorn eating confirmation.”
