President-elect Donald Trump is moving forward with his decision to nominate former Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general, despite concerns about Gaetz's limited legal experience and ongoing investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct. Trump's insistence on Gaetz as his pick has raised alarms among allies and lawmakers, who fear challenges in securing the necessary Senate confirmation.
Trump views Gaetz as a crucial member of his Cabinet and a key defender of his administration's priorities. Gaetz's nomination, however, faces obstacles due to an existing House Ethics Committee probe and a Department of Justice investigation into sex crimes, both of which Gaetz denies.
Other controversial Cabinet picks by Trump, including Pete Hegseth for defense secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for health and human services secretary, and Tulsi Gabbard for director of national intelligence, have also sparked concerns and may face challenges in Senate confirmation.
Despite pushback from some Senate Republicans, Trump remains steadfast in his support for Gaetz and is actively lobbying for his confirmation. The nomination process has stirred tensions between House and Senate Republicans over the handling of the ethics investigation into Gaetz.
The confirmation battle over Gaetz is expected to test newly elected GOP Senate leader John Thune, who will be tasked with navigating the nomination process and potentially considering recess appointments to bypass Senate opposition.
Overall, Trump's nomination of Gaetz and other controversial picks sets the stage for early confirmation battles and highlights the challenges of securing Senate approval for key Cabinet positions in the incoming administration.
