Florida Representative Matt Gaetz announced he is withdrawing his name from consideration to serve as Attorney General in the upcoming Trump administration, citing concerns that his confirmation process was becoming a distraction.
In a statement released Wednesday, Gaetz highlighted his recent meetings with senators and expressed gratitude for their support and feedback, noting that his confirmation battle had started to overshadow the priorities of the Trump-Vance transition team.
“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,” Gaetz wrote. “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.”
Gaetz expressed his continued commitment to President Trump and his administration’s goals, adding that he would remain a steadfast supporter.
“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 stated.
A staunch ally of Trump, he has been a vocal supporter of the president-elect and his policies. While his confirmation will not move forward, his influence in shaping the next administration is expected to remain significant.
