Former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he is withdrawing his name from consideration to be President Donald Trump’s attorney general.
“I had a very good meeting with the Senator yesterday,” Gaetz wrote in a post on X. “I appreciate the wise advice – and the incredible support from many. As the momentum grows stronger, it is clear that my confirmation is unfair and a distraction. for critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition No time to waste on unnecessary Washington scuffles, so I will withdraw my name from consideration for Attorney General.Trump’s DOJ should be there and ready on Day 1.
“I remain committed to seeing that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history,” Gaetz added. “I will always be honored if President Trump nominates me to lead the Department of Justice and I believe he will Save America.”
Gaetz told Trump late Thursday morning that he would resign, a source familiar with the matter told ABC News.
Trump, who has personally called on lawmakers to rally support for Gaetz, issued a statement saying he appreciated Gaetz’s “recent efforts” to seek Senate approval and that his resignation was his choice.
“He did a good job but, at the same time, didn’t want to be a distraction for the Administration, which he respects,” Trump wrote. “Matt has a great future ahead of him, and I look forward to seeing all the things he has in store!”
President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, closes the door for a private meeting with Vice President-elect JD Vance and members of the Republican Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, November 20, 2024.
J. Scott Applewhite / AP
Trump announced last Wednesday that he tapped Gaetz to be the nation’s top law enforcement official. Gaetz, a conservative brand in Congress, stepped down from his post soon after.
The choice surprised many Republicans on Capitol Hill and raised eyebrows at the Justice Department.
Sen. Kevin Cramer, RN.D., expressed “relief” after Gaetz’s announcement.
“I know enough people who are “hell no” at conferences to know that the road will be very difficult, if possible, and I doubt it,” Cramer said.
GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said he thought it was “the right decision” even as Gaetz sounded “optimistic” during a meeting on Capitol Hill.
Republican senators are thought to be opposed to Gaetz because of the obstacles to his confirmation openly praising the decision to set him aside.
“I think this is a good step for the incoming president,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
“I think it’s a sound decision. I think it’s important,” said Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has been among the public voicing serious concerns.
Asked if he was relieved, Murkowski said, “I am. I think it was the right decision.”
Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota, who also expressed concern, said the withdrawal was “the right decision.”
“There may be some information that the president didn’t know when he made the original recommendation. Part of this process, that information comes out, and then at that point, when people re-evaluate or re-evaluate, you know. The president or an individual candidate can decide that it’s not the right time to pursuing the nomination,” Rounds said. “It may be because of the advice of the Senate rather than the consent of the Senate.”
Not all senators were open in their views.
“It’s obviously a decision that he made, and I think everybody has to make a decision that’s good for him and his family. And for whatever reason he decided not to pursue it,” said Senator John Thune, the incoming Republican leader.
When pressed on whether he felt it was the right choice: “We respect his decision,” Thune said.
Gaetz has come under scrutiny amid allegations of sexual misconduct, including allegations that he had sex with minors, which he has long denied.
The House Ethics Committee was in the final stages of its investigation into Gaetz when he was appointed attorney general, ABC News reported. Fierce debate has taken place on Capitol Hill since then over whether the panel should release the report.
Many senators said they believed the information contained in the report would become public during confirmation hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator John Cornyn, who met with Gaetz on Wednesday, said the hearing has the potential to be “Kavanaugh on steroids.”
Sources told ABC News in the last few days it became clear to the Trump team that Gaetz will not have enough votes to confirm the Senate with a source close to the president-elect telling ABC News “there is no way for 50” senators.
Karoline Leavitt, a spokeswoman for the Trump-Vance transition, said Thursday that Trump “remains committed to appointing a leader for the Department of Justice who will vigorously defend the Constitution and stop the weaponization of our justice system.”
“President Trump will announce new decisions as they are made,” Leavitt said.
Trump has announced who he plans to install as a top defense attorney for high-level roles at the Justice Department. Todd Blanche was selected as deputy attorney general and Emil Bove as deputy attorney general.
ABC News’ Kelsey Walsh, Lalee Ibssa and Mariam Khan contributed to this report.
