Trump’s transition latest updates: Matt Gaetz resigns from Congress after being picked as Attorney General
Donald Trump has picked his controversial MAGA ally to oversee the nation’s Justice Department
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Your support makes all the difference.President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Representative Matt Gaetz to be his attorney general.
Gaetz resigned from his seat in the US House of Representatives in light of the news, Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed on Wednesday. This will effectively end the House Ethics probe into allegations of sexual misconduct and drug use made against him.
Trump has also chosen former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio to join his administration. Gabbard is set to serve as the director of national intelligence while Rubio has been nominated to be secretary of state.
Meanwhile, the Republicans are projected to retain control of the House, completing their trifecta.
Trump met with Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday to discuss a transition schedule, with their opening sitdown warm and cordial in tone. Their remarks lasted about a minute, with Trump observing “Politics is tough” and adding: “And in many cases, it’s not a nice world. But it’s a nice world today.”
The men subsequently met in private without the press pack present, with Trump apparently getting a laugh by joking about bringing an end to term limits.
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Elon Musk wielded enormous, unprecedented influence in the 2024 presidential election. He has a powerful megaphone to his 203 million followers on X, earns priceless media coverage and backed a Republican nominee who delivered on his promise to put him in charge of gutting federal agencies and cutting trillions of dollars from the federal budget.
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Trump nominates MAGA congressman Matt Gaetz as surprise attorney general pick
Donald Trump has nominated Republican congressman Matt Gaetz to serve as US attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement officer, overseeing an agency that could be used to target the president-elect’s rivals while he faces several criminal investigations of his own.
The 42-year-old GOP lawmaker from Florida “has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice,” Trump said in a statement on Wednesday.
“It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!” Gaetz wrote on X.
Trump nominates MAGA congressman Matt Gaetz as surprise attorney general pick
Trump picks the Florida congressman to lead the Department of Justice
‘The absurdity is the point’: NYT columnist says cabinet picks are ‘loyalty tests'
New York Times columnist Ezra Klein noted on X after Matt Gaetz was picked to be attorney general that “Demanding Senate Republicans back Gaetz as attorney general and Hegseth as Defense Secretary is the 2024 version of forcing Sean Spicer to say it was the largest inauguration crowd ever.”
“These aren’t just appointments. They’re loyalty tests. The absurdity is the point,” he added. “It also reflects a difference between Trump in 2020 and Trump in 2024: In 2020, Trump didn’t have the pull with Senate Republicans ... to impose this kind of loyalty test. He didn’t even have it with many of his own appointees. Now, well, we’ll see.”
Republican senator says Gaetz has ‘his work cut out for him’ to become attorney general
John Bolton sums up Trump’s ideal cabinet picks in one damning word
Donald Trump’s former National Security Advisor gave a damning assessment of picks for the president-elect’s new cabinet, summing them up in one word.
John Bolton said that rather than having “loyalty” from those selected to serve in his new administration, Trump would prefer “fealty,” referring to a swearing of unwavering allegiance to a feudal lord or leader.
The president-elect has already demonstrated his willingness to appoint his cheerleaders to top positions, including Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who were recently named as the joint heads of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Other eye-brow-raising picks include Fox News host Pete Hegseth as defense secretary.
John Bolton sums up Trump’s ideal cabinet picks in one damning word
Trump’s former National Security Advisor said that rather than having ‘loyalty’ from those selected to serve in his new administration, the President-elect would prefer ‘fealty’
Trump will nominate ex-Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence
President-elect Donald Trump will nominate a former Democratic congresswoman who has promoted conspiracy theories about US involvement in Ukraine to be the next head of the US intelligence community.
In a statement, Trump announced that he is tapping former Hawaii representative Tulsi Gabbard to be his Director of National Intelligence, a position from which Gabbard will be in charge of an office that was created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and tasked with leading and synthesizing intelligence collected from around the world.
The president-elect said Gabbard, who holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Army National Guard, “has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans” for “over two decades.”
Trump will nominate ex-Democrat Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence
Former Hawaii congresswoman has falsely claimed that the US has funded ‘biolabs’ in Ukraine
Trump nominates Matt Gaetz to be attorney general
Trump has announced that Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz will be nominated to serve as his attorney general.
“It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!” Gaetz wrote on X.
Trump said in a statement: “Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice.”
“Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” the president-elect added. “Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans’ badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department.”
Republicans name John Thune to be Senate majority leader in Trump’s Washington
Senate Republicans nominated Senate Minority Whip John Thune of South Dakota to succeed Mitch McConnell as majority leader, setting him up to be the main force to push through president-elect Donald Trump’s agenda.
Thune beat out Florida Senator Rick Scott, a favorite of allies of Trump’s such as Elon Musk, and Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who previously held the job of whip.
First elected in 2004, Thune beat former majority leader Thom Daschle.
Republicans name John Thune to be Senate majority leader in Trump’s Washington
The Senate minority whip from South Dakota will succeed Mitch McConnell as the head of Republicans
Trump announces Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence
Trump has announced that former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard will be the next director of national intelligence.
I am pleased to announce that former Congresswoman, Lieutenant Colonel Tulsi Gabbard, will serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI).
For over two decades, Tulsi has fought for our Country and the Freedoms of all Americans.
As a former Candidate for the Democrat Presidential Nomination, she has broad support in both Parties - She is now a proud Republican!
I know Tulsi will bring the fearless spirit that has defined her illustrious career to our Intelligence Community, championing our Constitutional Rights, and securing Peace through Strength.
Tulsi will make us all proud!
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