Trump cabinet latest: President-elect forced to name alternative AG as Matt Gaetz hints at return in new role
Former Florida congressman withdrew from consideration saying his candidacy was ‘becoming a distraction’ as more details of House Ethics Committee investigation leaked
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s has announced that former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi, who represented him at his first impeachment trial in the Senate in 2019, is his new pick to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ) following the withdrawal of ex-congressman Matt Gaetz.
“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore,” the president-elect wrote in a statement on Thursday evening.
“Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again.”
Gaetz dropped out of the confirmation process yesterday saying his candidacy was “becoming a distraction” after the House Ethics Committee came under pressure to release the findings of its investigation into allegations he had sex with a minor – accusations he has consistently denied.
“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” he wrote on X, also hinting he could return in “a different post”.
The allegations against Gaetz had reportedly led Trump’s team to consider him “blackmail-able” and therefore to reluctantly draw a line under his pursuit of the job.
Bill O’Reilly claims Trump’s cabinet will have zero policy input: ‘Say ‘yes, sir’ or they’re not going to be OK’
Which Trump Cabinet picks will actually get confirmed — and who will work across the aisle?
Trump’s new AG pick didn’t pursue lawsuit against Trump University – after he donated $25k to her campaign
Trump team believed Gaetz was too ‘blackmail-able’ to be attorney general, says report
Trump cabinet latest: Who will get confirmed and who will work across the aisle?
Donald Trump is nearly done with his slate of initial Cabinet nominees as his incoming White House and broader administration begin to take shape.
And while a few notables are making headlines and could face real opposition to their respective confirmations, more are expected to sail smoothly through the Republican-controlled Senate.
Most reflect one of two schools of the Republican Party, now both totally subservient to Trump. Some are MAGA diehards, like Matt Gaetz and Kristi Noem. Others are more aligned with the party’s center, like Marco Rubio. Figures who fall into both camps may find opportunities for common ground with Democrats over the next four years — a valuable prospect if the opposition party is able to win control of one or both chambers of Congress in the future.
A number of Cabinet positions remain outstanding: Trump has yet to name his picks for Agriculture, HUD, Treasury and Labor. But his choices for the most prominent positions are now all named, and some are much more bipartisan — or more antagonistic — than a layperson might expect.
John Bowden reports.
Which Trump Cabinet picks will actually get confirmed?
From Fox News alumni to a retired professional wrestling performer, these are the most and least likely of Trump’s picks to survive the confirmation process
How much does Linda McMahon actually know about education?
While Trump’s pick for education secretary is relatively unknown in academic circles, she is famous in another: the WWE ring.
Former wrestling mogul and billionaire Linda McMahon has stunned educators by being unveiled as Trump’s choice to run the Department of Education – or, perhaps, to lead the operation to scrap it altogether.
But how much education experience does she actually have?
Rhian Lubin takes a look.
How much does Trump education pick Linda McMahon actually know about education?
Trump stunned educators by unveiling Linda McMahon as his choice to run the Department of Education
Hegseth’s comments about women in the military met with outrage
Women veterans, service members and advocacy groups are outraged by recent remarks from Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s military branches, a veteran and former Fox News host who does not want women serving in combat.
Pete Hegseth, who Trump has nominated to be the next secretary of defense, has been widely derided for a lack of qualifications to lead the country’s largest federal agency and its 3 million service members and civilian staff members.
Here’s retired General Mark Milley giving his blunt response to Hegseth’s nomination:
Alex Woodward reports.
Women veterans outraged with Trump’s pick Pete Hegseth to lead Defense Department
Trump’s pick for the Pentagon is signalling a ‘dangerous regression’ for women in the armed forces, they say
Full story: Matt Gaetz drops out of consideration for attorney general
Former Florida congressman Matt Gaetzannounced on Thursday that he would end his bid to be Donald Trump’s attorney general.
“I had excellent meetings with senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback — and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” tweeted Gaetz.
John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.
Matt Gaetz drops out of contention for attorney general after fierce backlash
Former congressman and Trump loyalist said investigation into allegation he had sex with minor was a ‘distraction’
Nikki Haley issues scathing takedown of two Trump cabinet picks
Nikki Haley has launched into a blistering critique of Donald Trump’s cabinet picks Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F Kennedy Jr, slamming the former as “a Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer.”
The former United Nations Ambassador in Trump’s first administration raised major concerns about Gabbard, who was picked as director of national security, and RFK Jr, who was nominated Health and Human Services secretary, during her SiriusXM show Nikki Haley Live on Wednesday.
James Liddell reports.
Nikki Haley issues scathing putdowns of Trump cabinet picks Tulsi Gabbard and RFK Jr
Former UN ambassador in Trump’s first administration warned against ‘Russian, Iranian, Syrian, Chinese sympathizer’ Gabbard
Matt Gaetz: What to know about sexual misconduct allegations as he withdraws as Trump’s attorney general pick
Matt Gaetz has withdrawn himself from consideration for the role of Donald Trump’s attorney general.
The former Florida congressman announced he was ending his bid to head up the Justice Department on Thursday, saying he had become “a distraction” to the future Trump-Vance administration.
His withdrawal comes following a week of intense scrutiny over resurfaced allegations of wrongdoing, including a federal sex trafficking probe – that ended without charges – and a House ethics inquiry. He vehemently denies the allegations.
Josh Marcus and Rhian Lubin break down what you need to know.
Matt Gaetz controversy: What to know about sexual misconduct allegations
Trump loyalist said his appointment proved too much of a ‘distraction,’ leading him to drop out
Bill O’Reilly claims Trump’s cabinet will have zero policy input: ‘Say ‘yes, sir’ or they’re not going to be OK’
Bill O’Reilly, the former Fox News host, has argued that President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet picks will not have any sway over policy in his next administration.
The 75-year-old appeared on NewsNation on Wednesday night, saying that Trump is likely to concentrate power at the White House and simply have his department leaders follow his directives.
The commentator compared Trump’s incoming administration to that of Franklin D. Roosevelt, saying that the president-elect will put in place a structure where cabinet members will simply follow his lead.
Read more:
Bill O’Reilly claims Trump’s cabinet will have zero policy input: ‘Say ‘yes, sir’’
‘The second time around is going to be totally different than the first time, and this is why there is so much chaos and confusion,’ said former Fox News host
Sex scandal claims swirl around Trump’s cabinet
President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet is proving to be one of the most controversial in recent memory, including a number of people who face sexual misconduct allegations.
Trump himself has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than two dozen women. He has bragged about grabbing women “by the p***y.” A jury found him liable for sex abuse against former Elle columnist E. Jean Carroll.
Still, he has been elected twice to serve as president. He has denied all the accusations against him.
“This is not a good time for survivors or victims. People are not going to speak up because, look, it’s falling on deaf ears. No one cares,” one of Trump’s accusers previously told The Independent after he was re-elected.
Now, he’s nominated a number of individuals who also face claims of engaging in or tolerating sexual misconduct.
Karoline Leavitt, Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman said: “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail — and his Cabinet picks reflect his priority to put America First. President Trump will continue to appoint highly-qualified men and women who have the talent, experience, and necessary skill sets to Make America Great Again.”
Kelly Rissman looks at some of the contentious picks Trump has made for his inner circle.
All the sex scandal claims against Trump’s cabinet as Gaetz ditches AG bid
The president-elect has nominated a number of people to his inner circle who face claims related to sex scandals - much like he has
Piers Morgan mocks Ellen DeGeneres over reported decision to move to England after Trump win
Ellen DeGeneres and her wife, Portia de Rossi, have reportedly listed their Montecito estate and relocated to rural England following Donald Trump’s presidential win.
The former TV host, 66, and her wife, 51, have fled the country and plan to “never return” to the U.S., sources told The Wrap.
The couple of 16 years has move to the Cotswolds in South West England, the outlet reports, and their Montecito mansion, about 90 miles north of Los Angeles, has either already been privately listed or will be on the market soon.
Inga Parkel has more.
Piers Morgan mocks Ellen DeGeneres over move to England after Trump win
Former TV host and her wife have reportedly put their Montecito estate on the market and moved to rural England
Tommy Tuberville tells Steve Bannon 2020 election was stolen
Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville questioned the validity of the 2020 election during an appearance on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast with an offensive rant in which he called President Joe Biden a “bedridden dementia patient.”
Bannon, President-elect Donald Trump’s former White House chief strategist, asked Tuberville about the Democrats, saying “They’re there to fully stop Donald Trump and hopefully take their plans to take the House in two years and impeach him, right?”
Tuberville said the Democrats’ plan “was accelerated because they stole the election from President Trump and they were able to get four years with a bedridden dementia patient.”
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Tommy Tuberville tells Steve Bannon 2020 election was stolen in rant about Joe Biden
Alabama Senator says Democrats ‘were able to get four years with a bedridden dementia patient’
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