CNN anchor Jake Tapper opens show with four words he ‘never contemplated using’ after Trump’s shock Cabinet picks
Jake Tapper was absolutely stunned when he started his show on Wednesday after Donald Trump nominated Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz as attorney general.
Trump named the controversial Florida congressman as his nominee, a move that will undoubtedly outrage Democrats and even shock many Republicans in Washington.
Perhaps expressing that outrage, Tapper began his show in awe of the nomination.
‘Welcome to The Lead, I’m Jake Tapper. And let me start the show by uttering some words that I had never considered together before. And those words are: U.S. Attorney General Matt Gaetz, he said.”
He then said that he believed there was a danger that Trump would give Gaetz such a position, which would require Senate confirmation.
Jake Tapper was absolutely stunned when he started his show Wednesday after Donald Trump nominated Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general
Trump named controversial Florida congressman Matt Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general
“If you’re wondering what Trump looks like without the guardrails, we get an idea that goes beyond theory. We begin with the latest news on so many fronts related to President-elect Donald Trump’s transition.”
Gaetz is a MAGA instigator who has targeted both Republican members of the House of Representatives and Democrats as he has remained a close ally of Trump.
While Trump appears to value staunch loyalty as a prerequisite for his selection for key posts over standard qualifications, the choice of Gaetz as the top law enforcement official in the country left many scratching their heads — if not scraping their jaws off the floor.
Earlier this year, it was announced that the Republican lawmaker was being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and bribery.
He was also the subject of a Justice Department investigation into sex trafficking involving a 17-year-old girl, but no charges were ever filed.
“It is my great honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida is hereby nominated to serve as Attorney General of the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday afternoon.
“Matt is a highly gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on bringing about much-needed reforms at the Department of Justice,” Trump continued.
If confirmed, Gaetz would become the nation’s top law enforcement official, overseeing the Justice Department and FBI.
Trump named the controversial Florida congressman as his nominee, a move that is sure to outrage Democrats and even shock many Republicans in Washington.
The president-elect claimed in his post that there are few issues in the US more important than “ending the partisan weaponization of our justice system.”
Trump claimed Gaetz “will restore Americans’ seriously shattered faith and trust in the Department of Justice.”
Gaetz posted to X in response to the announcement: “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!”
The longtime MAGA loyalist was first elected to Congress in 2016 to represent Florida’s 1st congressional district. He previously served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Gaetz rose to prominence for his controversial comments as a member of Congress and his actions as a member of the Freedom Caucus.
After taking office during Trump’s first term, he became one of the leading critics of the Russia investigation into the 45th president.
Gaetz resigned from his position in the U.S. House of Representatives just hours after the nomination.