'Uphill climb': Why Senate Republicans say Trump Gaetz confirmation fight 'will be messy'

After President-elect Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the United States' 2024 presidential election, reporters mentioned possible nominees for U.S. attorney general. And the names mentioned ranged from Mike Davis (a far-right MAGA attorney known for his violent and threatening rhetoric) to Judge Aileen Cannon, the Trump appointee assigned to special counsel Jack Smith's classified documents case.

But the person Trump has picked for U.S. attorney general is former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), the Trump loyalist who infuriated many of his fellow Republicans when he triggered the "motion to vacate" that led to former Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-California) being ousted as House speaker. Gaetz has been federally investigated for sex trafficking allegations, but he has vehemently died them and has never been charged with anything.

After Trump returns to the White House on January 20, 2025, Gaetz would need to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate — which Republicans flipped in the 2024 election.

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But according to Politico's Rachel Bade, Senate Republicans may not confirm him.

Bade, in an article published on November 18, reports, "Numerous Republican lawmakers told Donald Trump and his team that they believe his pick to be attorney general, controversial Rep. Matt Gaetz, has little chance of being confirmed, according to multiple Senate Republican and people around Trump. And they're privately hoping Trump doesn't make them walk the plank. That message, according to people who were granted anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, has been delivered to the president-elect himself, his future White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and to Gaetz's unofficial 'sherpa,' Vice President-elect JD Vance. And it appears to be at least partially sinking in."

Senate Republicans, according to Bade, believe Trump is putting them between a rock and a hard place by picking Gaetz.

On one hand, Bade reports, they fear a "MAGA primary challenge if they oppose his nomination." But on the other hand, they fear that they could be "kissing their seats goodbye in a general election if they back" Gaetz.

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Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) has said that Gaetz has "an uphill climb."

"Despite the lobbying campaign," Bade explains, "things are not looking peachy. Nearly a dozen Senate Republicans refused to say they'd back Gaetz when prodded by Politico last night. Those who are speaking aren't being particularly kind…. Republicans are also warning Trump that the fight will be messy."

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Read Politico's full report at this link.