President-elect Donald Trump has announced that Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) will serve as attorney general in his second administration, stating in a Trump-Vance transition press release:
It is my Great Honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be The Attorney General of the United States. Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice. Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System. Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department. On the House Judiciary Committee, which performs oversight of DOJ, Matt played a key role in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, and exposing alarming and systemic Government Corruption and Weaponization. He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law. Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution. We must have Honesty, Integrity, and Transparency at DOJ. Under Matt’s leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again.
Gaetz said he would be honored to serve as attorney general in Trump’s second administration, stating in a post on X:
It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!
Trump’s announcement reportedly shocked lawmakers. Punchbowl News’ Melanie Zanona reported that Representative Garret Graves (R-La.), one of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) close allies, was clearly distraught following the announcement:
Meanwhile, Rep. Garrett [sic] Graves — a Kevin McCarthy ally — literally ran away from me and @AnnieGrayerCNN when we tried to ask him about Gaetz, grabbing another member by the shoulders to use him as a body shield to block us.
Firearms-rights organization Gun Owners of America (GOA) responded to Trump’s announcement by noting Gaetz’s 95 percent rating from the GOA:
HUGE NEWS! President-Elect Donald Trump has nominated @RepMattGaetz to be his Attorney General. Our next AG has a 95% rating with GOA & wants to ABOLISH THE ATF.🔥
Gaetz was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, winning reelection four times while representing Florida’s 1st Congressional District. Before serving in Congress, he served in the Florida House of Representatives, from April 2010 to November 2016. During his tenure in the House, Gaetz has earned a cumulative score of 85 percent on The New American’s Freedom Index.
