Legal scholar Laurence Tribe has suggested that President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Representative Matt Gaetz for attorney general is a deliberate distraction to deflect attention from his more controversial choice of Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence.
Trump’s announcement of Gaetz’s nomination on Wednesday quickly sparked skepticism among Republicans, especially given Gaetz’s history of conflicts with traditional conservatives and ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct. However, Tribe argues that the Gaetz nomination is likely a “shiny object” intended to divert focus away from Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman from Hawaii, whose recent alignment with the Russian government and the GOP has raised alarm among many political observers.
Before unveiling Gaetz’s nomination, Trump made another bold move by naming Gabbard to lead the nation’s intelligence efforts, despite the former congresswoman’s polarizing views. Gabbard, who has been highly critical of U.S. foreign policy and has publicly supported controversial positions on Russia, particularly regarding the invasion of Ukraine, has faced sharp criticism from both sides of the political spectrum.
Notably, Hillary Clinton once labeled her a “Russian asset,” while Republican figures like Senator Mitt Romney and former Representative Adam Kinzinger have accused her of spreading Russian propaganda and betraying U.S. interests.
Tribe speculated that Trump’s selection of Gaetz is part of a calculated strategy to create a political diversion. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Tribe suggested that the Gaetz nomination serves as a temporary spectacle, designed to make any subsequent, less controversial appointment—such as that of Matt Whitaker, a former acting attorney general—seem more palatable to the Senate.
“My best guess: Matt Gaetz is simply the shiny object that Trump is dangling out there to distract from Tulsi Gabbard and to generate a sigh of relief when Matt Whitaker or some other relatively normal type is nominated to be [attorney general] after Gaetz goes down in flames,” Tribe wrote.
Despite Trump’s hopes for a smooth confirmation process, Gaetz’s nomination faces serious hurdles in the Senate. Some Republicans have voiced concerns that Gaetz may struggle to garner enough support for confirmation, even with the GOP controlling the upper chamber following last week’s election. To mitigate any potential setbacks, Trump has urged the Senate to allow recess appointments, bypassing the confirmation process altogether.
Gabbard’s appointment, too, is expected to encounter significant resistance. Her strong pro-Russia rhetoric and support for Putin, especially regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, have made her a deeply divisive figure. Some critics argue that her views align too closely with Russian interests, casting doubt on her suitability for overseeing U.S. intelligence operations.
Despite the potential for backlash, Senate leadership has indicated a desire to confirm Trump’s nominees swiftly. South Dakota Senator John Thune, the newly elected Republican majority leader, has pledged to expedite the nomination process to allow the new administration to implement its agenda without delay.
While the ultimate fate of Trump’s Cabinet picks remains uncertain, the nominations of Gaetz and Gabbard are already fueling significant debate over the future direction of U.S. policy and the president-elect’s approach to governance.
