Welcome to the online version of From the policy deskevening bulletin, bringing you the latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail from the NBC News Politics team.
In today’s edition, we report on Matt Gaetz’s refusal to become the next attorney general. Plus, senior political reporter Jonathan Allen puts the former Florida congressman’s downfall in historical context.
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Trump’s “revenge” campaign strikes at the harsh reality of governing in Washington
Henry J. Gomez, Olympia Sonnier, Jake Traylor, and Julie Tsirkin
by Matt Gaetz Removal Thursday It shows the obstacles President-elect Donald Trump may face as he tries to reverse his position as attorney general nominee. “revenge” campaign A ruling coalition capable of working within the realities of Washington has evolved.
Gaetz, until recently a Florida congressman, embodies Trump’s agenda of grievance and vendetta as few others can. He has been one of Trump’s most pugilistic defenders and even the bleeding edge of the MAGA resistance in Congress against his own Republican leadership.
But Trump has been a tough sell since announcing Gaetz as his pick eight days ago — in a choice that shocked much of Washington.
The Justice Department, which Trump wants him to lead, once investigated and suspended Gaetz for sex trafficking. without accusing him. Meanwhile, a separate report has not been published House Ethics Committee investigation Gaetz’s head also hung, and details of what two women who claimed he paid him for sex began to leak to the committee.
Gaetz’s hasty retreat is also emblematic of the president-elect and his team’s frequent flouting of Capitol Hill conventions. While Gaetz’s liabilities and legal problems are well-documented, deeper scrutiny by Trump’s team could have revealed the details of the ethics probe sooner. Before Trump surprised the political world with his announcement last week, little effort was made to take the temperature of senators.
At least five Senate Republicans planned to vote against Gaetz and told other senators and those close to Trump that they were unlikely to be swayed, according to multiple people with direct knowledge. Among the “no” votes were Sens. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, as well as Sen.-elect John Curtis of Utah.
At least 20 — and possibly as many as 30 — Senate Republicans were too anxious to vote for Gaetz on the Senate floor, one source said.
Putting Gaetz’s retreat into historical context
By Jonathan Allen
It’s rare for a president-elect to lose his pick for any Cabinet position, much less attorney general. The last time the Senate effectively rejected a nominee: George HW Bush in 1989 nominated longtime Texas Sen. John Tower to run the Pentagon.
But it’s not even Thanksgiving, and Donald Trump is already looking for a backup top law enforcement officer after that. Matt Gaetz AG withdrew the offer on Thursday. Republican senators probably found her recent appeal less effective than her long campaign to discredit them and the sexual assault allegations against her, which Gaetz denies.
Gaetz had not been formally nominated — Trump does not take office until January — but he is the first attorney general to drop out since 1993, when two of Bill Clinton’s nominees, Zoe Byrd and Kimba Wood, declined to be considered following revelations about their hiring. undocumented immigrants.
New presidents typically draw up their Cabinet lists with at least one eye on their chances of winning approval. Gaetz didn’t fit that mold.
More broadly, Trump has struggled with the Senate more than most presidents. And he may find that the Republican majority there is less moderate than he would like.
Former Fox News personality Pete Hegseth, his pick for defense secretary, faced some early opposition. Also, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are named director of national intelligence and secretary of health and human services, respectively. Their fate remains to be determined.
But Trump is off to a good start. He will have to think more about nominating people who can win confirmation on their own or cross the finish line with senators. Otherwise, he risks a repeat of Barack Obama’s Cabinet failures or worse. In 2009, Tom Daschle (Health and Human Services), Bill Richardson (Commerce), and Judd Gregg (Commerce) withdrew for various reasons.
The last time Trump lost only one of his primary picks for the Cabinet, Andrew Puzder withdrew as labor secretary candidate In February 2017.
➡️ Read more about Trump’s transition
- Apart from Gaetz, Trump’s other two candidates for the Cabinet of Ministers, Hegseth and Kennedy, have also faced serious allegations of sexual misconduct, which both have denied. A new police report It details the allegations Hegseth faced.
- Trump plans to go a flurry of executive actions hours after taking office, he introduced more socially conservative health care policies to the US military and launched large-scale deportations of people living in the country illegally.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, has some. Evolving views on Obamacare and Medicare over the years, including advocating a “one-size-fits-all” plan.
🗞️ Other top stories of the day
- 👀 Buckeye State Battle Brewing: The race for JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat has begun, and potential candidates’ announcements about Trump’s Cabinet picks are being closely watched. More →
- ☑️ Last race call: Republican Nick Begich won the at-large seat of Alaska over Democratic Republican Mary Peltola, NBC News projects. The Republicans have won for now 219-213 majorityThere are three races yet to be called. While women have made significant gains in Congress in recent elections, that progress has stalled for the first time since 2016, falling short of current record levels. More →
- 🚫 No, they have: The Senate overwhelmingly rejected Bernie Sanders’ efforts to block the sale of certain offensive weapons to Israel. More →
- ⬇️ DOGE double down: Republicans who lead the House Oversight Committee plan to create a new subcommittee to work with Trump’s proposed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy-led “Department of Government Efficiency.” More →
That’s all for the Policy Desk for now. If you have feedback – like it or not – send us an email politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
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