Trump was still calling Republican senators Thursday morning to assess Goetz’s chances.
But by lunchtime, the candidate concluded he didn’t have the votes, and he shocked Washington again by announcing he was showing himself the door.
“While the momentum was strong,” he wrote on X, “it is clear that my confirmation unfairly distracted from the important work of Trump and Vance’s transition.”
Trump’s Truth Social post confirming the coup — his first political setback since being elected 16 days earlier — was unusually subdued for the president-elect.
“I greatly appreciate Matt Gaetz’s recent efforts to seek confirmation as attorney general,” he wrote, adding that the candidate did not want to “distract attention.”
Hours later, Trump nominated former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi for the post.
While Trump predicted a “wonderful future” for Goetz, there is a question mark over what he will do next.
He was comfortably re-elected this month, but there are already plans for a snap election to fill his vacated seat.
Randy Ross, a Trump fundraiser in Florida, told the BBC that America had not heard the last of Matt Gaetz.
“I believe there is still room for this patriot in the Trump administration, Florida and the future leadership of our country,” Mr. Ross said. “We all look forward to his next steps.”
Meanwhile, Ginger Goetz, who married the congressman in 2021, posted an old photo of X after he left them both on the steps of Capitol Hill.
“The end of an era,” she commented.
