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Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) praised President-elect Donald Trump’s flurry of nomination choices, “except one.”

Trump’s announced pick of Rep. Matt Gaetz for attorney general sent shockwaves throughout Capitol Hill, dividing Republicans and others over the Florida Republican who resigned from Congress ahead of the announcement Wednesday.

McCarthy, who was targeted by Gaetz and others in an effort to oust him from his short-lived role as House speaker, told Bloomberg Television that Trump’s pick had little chance of getting confirmed by the Senate.

“You know, we’ve had names like Rubio, Waltz, Gaetz, even. I mean, how would you make — what do you make of the choices so far?” anchor Haslinda Amin asked McCarthy.

(Video Credit: Bloomberg Television)

“I think choices are very good, except one,” the former lawmaker replied.

“Look, Gaetz won’t get confirmed. Everybody knows that. But when you look at a Rubio, just the knowledge that he has. Being in the Intel Committee, I was on the Gang of Eight, and his understanding, even when you listen to the other side of the aisle, they say he’ll make a great secretary of state,” he added, referring to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) who was tapped by Trump to be secretary of state.

He praised the choice of retired Army National Guard officer and war veteran Mike Waltz as national security adviser and called John Ratcliffe as head of the Central Intelligence Agency a “very strong” pick.

“The difference is to what was eight years ago today: President Trump understands the job. He knows the people that he needs around him to get there. And I think he’s got to be much better prepared because he only has one term. But he’ll hit the ground running this time,” McCarthy said.

Amin pressed him as to why Trump would have selected Gaetz.

“You can talk to [the] president, but it’s a good deflection from others, but it also gives …” McCarthy responded, before stopping short. “I’ll let it stand at that.”

“You’d have to ask the president, but Gaetz couldn’t win in a Republican conference, so it doesn’t matter,” he added.

Amid the congratulatory messages on Gaetz’s nomination, some GOP lawmakers made it clear at the outset that they would not vote to confirm him.

“He’s under investigation by the House Committee on Ethics,” Sen. Susan Collins, said, according to Fox News. “Obviously, the president has the right to nominate whomever he wishes, but this is why the background checks that are done by the FBI and the advice and consent process in the Senate, and public hearings are also important.”

Axios reported that there were “audible gasps by House Republicans during a conference meeting on Wednesday” when Gaetz was named.

“My reaction … was surprised,” Ethics Committee Chair Michael Guest (R-MS) said. “His name was not someone that I had heard and, to my knowledge, any other members of our conference had heard,” Guest added.

“He will go through the nomination process just like everyone else,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-OK).

“Gaetz has a better shot at having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the Senate,” said Rep. Max Miller (R-OH) according to Axios.

Rep. John Duarte (R-CA) called Gaetz “a compromised AG” and said, “There are better choices.”

Governor Ron DeSantis congratulated the Trump picks from the state of Florida, noting that special elections would be held to fill the vacated seats.

The Federalist’s Sean Davis noted an option for DeSantis in case Gaetz does not make it through the nomination process.

Frieda Powers
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