Senate Republicans convey to Trump: Gaetz's confirmation "is in jeopardy"
They are secretly wishing that Trump doesn’t force them into difficult situations.
TroibNews 
Numerous Republican lawmakers have conveyed to Donald Trump and his team that they believe Rep. Matt Gaetz, his controversial pick for attorney general, faces a slim chance of confirmation. This message, shared by several Senate Republicans and individuals close to Trump, suggests a desire among lawmakers to avoid a difficult position regarding the nomination.
According to those who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, the concerns have been communicated to Trump, his future White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Gaetz’s unofficial “sherpa,” Vice President-elect JD Vance. It appears that some of this sentiment is being acknowledged.
Senate Republicans are particularly apprehensive about the potential fallout from supporting or opposing Gaetz’s nomination. They fear that those up for reelection in 2026, such as Sen. Thom Tillis, could find themselves facing a MAGA primary challenge if they oppose him, and could risk losing their seats in the general election if they support his confirmation.
This concern isn’t limited to only the more vulnerable members. Many Republicans are worried that Trump might squander valuable political capital backing Gaetz's nomination when he could focus on advancing other, more viable candidates as well as his governing agenda. They point out that Gaetz’s confirmation hearings could be a major distraction as Trump seeks to reverse Joe Biden’s regulatory and legislative initiatives.
Trump has reportedly expressed the belief that Gaetz “has less than even odds of being confirmed by the Senate,” according to the New York Times. Nonetheless, he still desires a confrontation over the nomination and has asked Senate Republicans to give Gaetz “a shot,” arguing that he is well-suited to reform the Justice Department, as Sen. Kevin Cramer relayed to reporters on the Hill.
“That was kind of the whole conversation,” Cramer said. “He’s the disrupter that the department needs. That's the bottom line. And he doesn’t know that anybody else really will be.”
In a notable show of support, Trump’s key ally, Elon Musk, took to his X platform early this morning to back Gaetz, stating: “He is the Judge Dredd America needs to clean up a corrupt system and put powerful bad actors in prison. Gaetz will be our Hammer of Justice.” Musk dismissed the misconduct allegations against Gaetz as “less than nothing.”
Despite these backing efforts, the prospects for Gaetz’s nomination do not appear promising. Almost a dozen Senate Republicans hesitated to pledge their support for Gaetz when approached by PMG last night, and those who did speak were not particularly supportive.
“He’s got an uphill climb,” Sen. Joni Ernst remarked to reporters.
Republicans have also cautioned Trump that the battle over Gaetz’s confirmation is likely to be tumultuous. Incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley sidestepped inquiries about whether he would attempt to obtain the unpublished House Ethics Committee report or speak with the women who have made misconduct allegations. GOP sources indicate that committee Republicans will likely need to address both issues.
The Judiciary Committee mandates that all nominees undergo thorough FBI background checks, which would reveal any pertinent information in the House Ethics report, rumored to be quite damaging. Both Republicans and Democrats will closely examine allegations against Gaetz, including accusations of paying women for sex, engaging with a minor, or using illegal drugs.
Gaetz has categorically denied these claims, framing them as part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him, but he appears to be headed for a significant confrontation with his accusers.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
According to those who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic, the concerns have been communicated to Trump, his future White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, and Gaetz’s unofficial “sherpa,” Vice President-elect JD Vance. It appears that some of this sentiment is being acknowledged.
Senate Republicans are particularly apprehensive about the potential fallout from supporting or opposing Gaetz’s nomination. They fear that those up for reelection in 2026, such as Sen. Thom Tillis, could find themselves facing a MAGA primary challenge if they oppose him, and could risk losing their seats in the general election if they support his confirmation.
This concern isn’t limited to only the more vulnerable members. Many Republicans are worried that Trump might squander valuable political capital backing Gaetz's nomination when he could focus on advancing other, more viable candidates as well as his governing agenda. They point out that Gaetz’s confirmation hearings could be a major distraction as Trump seeks to reverse Joe Biden’s regulatory and legislative initiatives.
Trump has reportedly expressed the belief that Gaetz “has less than even odds of being confirmed by the Senate,” according to the New York Times. Nonetheless, he still desires a confrontation over the nomination and has asked Senate Republicans to give Gaetz “a shot,” arguing that he is well-suited to reform the Justice Department, as Sen. Kevin Cramer relayed to reporters on the Hill.
“That was kind of the whole conversation,” Cramer said. “He’s the disrupter that the department needs. That's the bottom line. And he doesn’t know that anybody else really will be.”
In a notable show of support, Trump’s key ally, Elon Musk, took to his X platform early this morning to back Gaetz, stating: “He is the Judge Dredd America needs to clean up a corrupt system and put powerful bad actors in prison. Gaetz will be our Hammer of Justice.” Musk dismissed the misconduct allegations against Gaetz as “less than nothing.”
Despite these backing efforts, the prospects for Gaetz’s nomination do not appear promising. Almost a dozen Senate Republicans hesitated to pledge their support for Gaetz when approached by PMG last night, and those who did speak were not particularly supportive.
“He’s got an uphill climb,” Sen. Joni Ernst remarked to reporters.
Republicans have also cautioned Trump that the battle over Gaetz’s confirmation is likely to be tumultuous. Incoming Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley sidestepped inquiries about whether he would attempt to obtain the unpublished House Ethics Committee report or speak with the women who have made misconduct allegations. GOP sources indicate that committee Republicans will likely need to address both issues.
The Judiciary Committee mandates that all nominees undergo thorough FBI background checks, which would reveal any pertinent information in the House Ethics report, rumored to be quite damaging. Both Republicans and Democrats will closely examine allegations against Gaetz, including accusations of paying women for sex, engaging with a minor, or using illegal drugs.
Gaetz has categorically denied these claims, framing them as part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him, but he appears to be headed for a significant confrontation with his accusers.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
