Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) suggested on Wednesday that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was nominated for attorney general by President-elect Donald Trump, not because the Florida Republican was a serious contender, but as a strategic diversion because the nomination was unlikely to win Senate approval.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television, McCarthy was asked about Trump’s Cabinet picks and their potential for confirmation. While he praised many of the choices, he made it clear that Gaetz’s nomination was a different matter.
“Look, Gaetz won’t get confirmed,” McCarthy said. “Everybody knows that.”
McCarthy, who was a steadfast ally of Trump during his time as Speaker of the House, seemed to suggest that the nomination was more about strategic maneuvering than an actual effort to appoint Gaetz to the top law enforcement position in the country. When asked why Trump would select Gaetz knowing he wouldn’t pass the Senate, McCarthy responded vaguely, saying, “You can talk to [the] president, but it’s a good deflection from others. I’ll let it stand at that.””
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Pressed further, McCarthy elaborated, suggesting that Gaetz’s chances within the Republican Party were slim. “You’d have to ask the president,” he said. “But Gaetz couldn’t win in a Republican conference, so it doesn’t matter.”
The comment reflects the ongoing tensions between McCarthy and Gaetz, who have had a strained relationship for some time. Gaetz was a key player in the effort to oust McCarthy from his leadership position last year, a move that led to McCarthy’s resignation from the House. Since then, McCarthy and his allies have sought to defeat Gaetz politically, including backing a primary challenger earlier this year in an unsuccessful multimillion-dollar campaign.
While the two have clashed in the past, McCarthy’s remarks about Gaetz’s nomination underscore the skepticism many in the GOP feel about Gaetz’s ability to secure a Cabinet position. The announcement of Gaetz as Trump’s pick for attorney general took many Senate Republicans by surprise, with some immediately questioning whether the nomination could clear the upper chamber.
One of the main hurdles for Gaetz’s confirmation is the long-running federal investigation into allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct with underage girls. Although the investigation was closed last year with no charges filed, the controversy surrounding Gaetz persists, particularly in light of ongoing inquiries by the House Ethics Committee into allegations of sex trafficking and drug use.
The House Ethics Committee no longer has jurisdiction over Gaetz after his resignation, but could still vote to release its report. With these ongoing issues hanging over him, it seems unlikely that Gaetz will have the support needed to secure Senate approval for the attorney general post.
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McCarthy’s comments reveal not only the deep divisions within the Republican Party but also suggest that Trump’s pick of Gaetz may be more of a calculated move to distract or deflect attention than a serious nomination.
