Fractures are growing in the Republican Party amid President-elect Donald Trump's decision to tap U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida as his next attorney general.
Trump has wasted no time filling out his Cabinet positions since his decisive election victory over Vice President Kamala Harris last week. In a statement on Wednesday, the former president said Gaetz "is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney" and that the conservative lawmaker "will end Weaponized Government" as head of the Justice Department.
But there may be obstacles in confirming Gaetz to the attorney general position. Even with Republicans holding control of the Senate in the new term, many GOP lawmakers have expressed concerns over Trump's nomination, including Maine Senator Susan Collins.
"I was shocked at the nomination," Collins told Punchbowl News reporter Max Cohen.
"This is why the Senate's advise and consent process is so important," she added. "I'm sure that there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz's hearing."
House Republicans appeared equally surprised at Gaetz's appointment. Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon told Punchbowl's Melanie Zanona: "I've got no good comment."
Ohio Congressman Max Miller told Axios reporter Juliegrace Burke on Wednesday that "Gaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the Senate," referring to the late British royal who died in September 2022.
This is a developing story that will be updated as further information becomes available.
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Kaitlin Lewis
Kaitlin Lewis is a Newsweek reporter on the Night Team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her focus is reporting on national ...
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