Allies of President-elect Donald Trump see former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal as a necessary political sacrifice to carry out Trump’s second-term vision.
Gaetz was despised by many lawmakers across both political parties as his firebrand antics upended Congress including ousting former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. But it was the stench of sex trafficking allegations involving at least one minor, and the looming release of a House Ethics Committee report that sunk his nomination.
A day after meeting with skeptical senators on Capitol Hill, Gaetz announced his withdrawal, citing the “distraction” he was causing the Trump administration.
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MAGA allies, however, somewhat shrugged off the announcement as a necessity that will have long-term benefits.
“Obviously some wanted to see him get through. But it’s a win-win for Trump when negotiating with Senate Republicans on other nominees confirmation,” said one Republican close to the campaign who requested anonymity.
The Republican also claimed Trump could tap Gaetz as “czar” or the embattled lawmaker could seek to return to his congressional seat in the 119th Congress.
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“It was no surprise to anyone in the know,” said a second Republican, who requested anonymity to speak freely about what close Trump allies are thinking.
Gaetz bowed out to save Trump from the embarrassment of a failed nomination. But if Gaetz stays low, “he’ll probably make a governor’s run in the future and his loyalty has earned him a Trump endorsement,” the first Republican source said.
Just hours after Gaetz stepped down, Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new nominee to lead the Justice Department. Bondi served as a defender for Trump during his first impeachment trial in the Senate and is seen as far more confirmable in the upper chamber.
“This is a massive upgrade,” Scott Jennings, a Republican pundit, raved on CNN.
While Trump may not get the bomb-thrower he was hoping for in Gaetz to shake up the DOJ, he’ll likely now get some of his other controversial nominations through the Senate, including Pentagon nominee Pete Hegseth and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Health and Human Services Department.
Reporting from The Bulwark’s Marc Caputo detailed a Trump conversation to Gaetz Thursday morning where he gave him the boot.
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“You don’t have the votes,” Trump reportedly told Gaetz. “These senators aren’t moving.”
Gaetz’s withdrawal sparked very little, if any, outrage, in another sign that Trump allies tacitly understood he wouldn’t get confirmed.
“I think a lot of the MAGA folks knew that this, realistically, was going to be an uphill battle for Congressman Gaetz,” said Republican strategist Steven Hilding. “From the time that it was first announced, there were reports of House members visibly laughing on the floor of the House.”
But Hilding also said that Trump’s other Cabinet nominees will likely pass through confirmation giving him more future wins. “MAGA folks have some room to rejoice in some of the other picks that (are either) non-Senate confirmed positions or look like they’re going to be on track to go through confirmation with little to no headache,” he said.
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Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is expected to sail through confirmation with bipartisan support to become the next Secretary of State, in one example of a Trump Cabinet pick that was met with general approval.
Charlie Kirk, the head of Turning Point USA whose organizations aided Trump’s reelection bid, quickly pivoted to the future beyond the Gaetz drama on Thursday.
“Plenty of good options still out there. Just wait and see,” Kirk wrote on X, before the Bondi announcement.
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Yet, there are some conservatives who were disappointed Gaetz won’t become the next attorney general.
“Congressman Gaetz would have been a fantastic Attorney General,” wrote Florida state Rep. Joel Rudman, who is running to succeed Gaetz’s congressional seat. “If he wants to come back to Congress, I will support him 100%. If not, I am ready to carry the torch and fight like hell to make him proud!
This article was originally published at www.washingtonexaminer.com
