How GOP lawmakers are 'privately' pushing back on full Trump House takeover: report

Ex-Rep. Matt Gaetz's withdrawal from the attorney general nomination earlier this week offers a preview of how Republicans might push back on President-Elect Donald Trump's desire to completely take over the Legislative Branch, according to Politico's Olivia Beavers, Jordain Carney, and Myah Ward.

Ahead of the former Florida congressman's withdrawal amid facing sex trafficking allegations, "GOP senators pushed back privately, not publicly," Politico reports. "Many were hesitant to vocally denounce his efforts, knowing the threat of Trump’s wrath and a potential primary challenge constantly shadow them."

When Politico asked Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) whether "there was a lesson for Trump to learn from Gaetz’s withdrawal," the Republican leader replied, Trump "has the constitutional right to nominate. We have the constitutional responsibility to confirm. We each handle our jobs separately."

READ MORE: 'Full-circle moment': 'Constitutional clash' in Congress mirrors 'epic rivalry' between 2 Republicans

The news outlet notes that despite Gaetz's exit, "incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has a slew of problems over Trump’s controversial Cabinet nominees — including sexual assault allegations against Pete Hegseth, who Trump tapped to lead the Department of Defense — as the incoming president leans on Congress to let him circumvent the Senate’s confirmation authority and make recess appointments."

With Speaker Mike Johnson's (R-LA) leadership role dependent upon the MAGA leader's approval, "You just have a very Trump House," a senior Republican House member told Politico, "because most people that came in came in with him at the top of the ticket."

But even with Trump's influence on Johnson and other top GOP members, the news outlet reports:

While lawmakers haven’t explicitly pushed back on efforts to allow the executive branch to make more funding decisions, there are already emerging policy divides between lawmakers and Trump on spending — as well as mass deportations, tariffs and additional aid to Ukraine. Just this week, libertarian-leaning GOP Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) argued that Trump’s plan to use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants would be a 'huge mistake.' Several Republicans, including Thune, have raised concerns about tariffs.

Furthermore, the MAGA leader's "anticipated return to Washington is poised to look much different than his arrival in 2017, when he knew little of the ways of Congress and struggled with the persuasive tactics required to push through a legislative agenda," Politico notes. "The coming months will lay bare whether his now-numerous Capitol Hill allies will be able to more effectively steer his ambitions — or allow him to steer theirs.

READ MORE: Senate Republicans privately say Gaetz is unqualified for AG: 'As many as 30 oppose his confirmation'

Politico's full report is available at this link.