President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will nominate Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to serve as U.S. Attorney General in his incoming administration. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump praised Gaetz, calling him a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” and highlighting his efforts in Congress to reform the Department of Justice (DOJ).
"Matt is a brilliant lawyer, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, and he has consistently shown a fierce commitment to fixing the DOJ,” Trump wrote. “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan weaponization of our justice system. Matt will put an end to Weaponized Government, protect our borders, dismantle criminal organizations, and restore Americans’ shattered faith and confidence in the Justice Department.”
Trump also underscored Gaetz’s track record of holding the DOJ accountable, particularly his work as a member of the House Judiciary Committee, where he played a key role in overseeing the department’s activities. “Matt was instrumental in defeating the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” Trump added, referring to the investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
In response to the nomination, Gaetz expressed his enthusiasm on social media, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”
A staunch ally of Trump, Gaetz has represented Florida’s 1st Congressional District, a conservative stronghold in the Florida Panhandle, since 2017. The 41-year-old lawmaker has built a reputation as one of the most vocal defenders of Trump’s policies and has been a fierce critic of the DOJ, particularly under the leadership of former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Gaetz has also gained national attention for his involvement in the efforts to remove Representative Kevin McCarthy from the House Speakership last year, where he played a prominent role in the movement to challenge the establishment wing of the Republican Party.
The nomination comes as Trump prepares to take office for a second term, with Republicans maintaining a slim majority in the Senate (53-47) in the upcoming Congress. Gaetz will need to be confirmed by the Senate before assuming the role of Attorney General, a process that could be contentious given the polarized political climate.
Should Gaetz be confirmed, his appointment would mark a significant shift in the DOJ’s leadership, aligning with Trump’s long-standing criticisms of the department and his goal of implementing more aggressive reforms to combat what he calls the “weaponization” of the federal government.
Gaetz’s nomination is expected to draw attention from both supporters and detractors alike, with many Republicans backing his hardline stance on justice reform and his staunch defense of Trump, while Democrats are likely to scrutinize his approach to oversight and his controversial past statements.
