In a move sparking strong reactions across the political spectrum, President-elect Donald Trump stunned Washington by nominating Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz for U.S. Attorney General. Trump’s selection of Gaetz—a conservative firebrand who has been a staunch ally—is being hailed by some as a bold shakeup and by others as a clear message to the left.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) reacted with a surprising mix of admiration and humor, calling Trump’s choice a “god-tier level” troll designed to “own the libs in perpetuity.” Fetterman’s comment went viral on X (formerly Twitter), where it even caught the attention of tech mogul Elon Musk, who himself recently joined Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE. Musk responded to the clip with an “Amazing” and a laughing emoji, clearly entertained by Fetterman’s take.
In an interview with NBC, Fetterman added that Gaetz’s nomination was “a master chess move” by Trump that left Democrats completely stunned. But, he suggested, it’s the reactions from Trump’s own party that will be the most interesting. “The good ones are going to come from my colleagues on the other side, the GOP, on how they can justify voting for that j—off,” Fetterman quipped, in a reference to the contentious confirmation hearings likely ahead for Gaetz.
Trump’s choice to nominate Gaetz, known for his outspoken conservatism and readiness to spar with political adversaries, has left both supporters and critics buzzing. The announcement came just before a House Ethics Committee report was set for a vote, detailing allegations of misconduct against Gaetz that have yet to be substantiated. In a decisive move, Gaetz resigned from the House, effectively ending the investigation that had been ongoing since April 2021.
Among Republicans, reactions to Gaetz’s nomination have ranged from surprise to outright shock. Moderate Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) voiced her reservations, underscoring the importance of the Senate’s confirmation process to thoroughly vet the nominee. “This is why the Senate’s advise-and-consent process is so important,” she told Punchbowl News, adding that “there will be many, many questions raised at Mr. Gaetz’s hearing.”
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho) was even more blunt, reportedly reacting with an expletive when asked for his initial thoughts by the Huffington Post.
Gaetz’s resignation and the swift nomination to AG marks a bold pivot for Trump, who has signaled that he intends to reshape the Justice Department. Gaetz’s experience as a conservative firebrand aligns well with Trump’s vision of a Justice Department focused on reform and a tougher stance against what Trump’s supporters see as bureaucratic overreach and political bias within federal agencies.
With the Senate confirmation hearings looming, all eyes are on Capitol Hill, where Gaetz will need to prove he can transition from his reputation as a combative congressman to a leader of the Justice Department. Regardless of the outcome, Trump’s pick has undoubtedly reshaped the political conversation—and, as Fetterman pointed out, might just have “owned the libs” in a way that few saw coming.
