Fox News Contributor Torches Trump’s ‘Foolish’ Gaetz Nomination: ‘A Five-Alarm Jerk’
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Fox News contributor Andy McCarthy criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to nominate Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for attorney general on Wednesday, branding the move “foolish”
In a National Review article titled, “On Trump’s Foolish, Futile Matt Gaetz AG Nomination,” McCarthy wrote that he was “stunned” upon hearing the news about Gaetz’s nomination.
“Gaetz was among the leading proponents of the effort to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election,” he continued. “No one who took such a position is qualified to be attorney general of the United States — the federal government’s chief law-enforcement official (other than the president) among whose most important jobs is to defend the Constitution. Case closed.”
McCarthy conceded that while Gaetz had “a lot of political talent, and a lot of lawyer talent,” he came across “like a five-alarm jerk” and was “deeply unpopular” in Capitol Hill.
“I am sure, then, that there are many White House staff positions — posts that do not require Senate confirmation — that he could fill with ease and perhaps do a good job. And I don’t doubt that he has a future in Florida electoral politics,” he argued. “But AG? No . . . and why are we even talking about this, since Gaetz is unconfirmable?”
McCarthy described the plan to appoint Gaetz through a congressional recess as “illegal” and “a nonstarter,” before concluding, “It’s not a job for Matt Gaetz. In insisting otherwise, President-elect Trump will only ignite GOP infighting and help reeling Democrats find their footing.”
Gaetz’s nomination prompted criticism and shock from several other Fox News contributors, including Byron York, who called Gaetz “a terrible pick” and noted that he had “enemies all over the place.”
Senate Republicans also seemed skeptical, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) urging his colleagues to “give Matt a chance” mere hours after he expressed skepticism over the nomination himself.
