Shortly after Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew his name from consideration for attorney general, multiple political commentators suggested that President-elect Donald Trump nominate a conservative Supreme Court justice for the position.
Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration for AG after being tapped by Trump for the position, saying it was “clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” The move came as the House Ethics Committee weighed releasing a report on alleged sexual misconduct by Gaetz.
Conservative commentators floated Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito for attorney general, a move that would also open up a seat for Trump to appoint someone to the nation’s highest court. Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices in his first term.
“Trump could put Justice Alito up for Attorney General and then fill the SCOTUS seat,” wrote Katie Pavlich. In a follow-up post, Pavlich added, “Or:” next to a GIF of Thomas.
Or: https://t.co/j6tXbmM4kr pic.twitter.com/pralJXF1UK
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) November 21, 2024
Steve Deace of The Blaze floated Thomas for the position in the second Trump administration. “Appoint Clarence Thomas attorney general, and then fill his seat on the Supreme Court with either Ted Cruz or Ron DeSantis,” Deace said.
Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sam Brown also endorsed the idea of nominating Thomas for AG.
“Double Win! President Trump appoints Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito, strong defenders of the Constitution, as his Attorney General. Then, he can immediately nominate a new US Supreme Court Justice!” Brown wrote on X. Make America Great Again! 🇺🇸 Left’s meltdown continues.”
🚨Double Win!
President Trump appoints Clarence Thomas or Samuel Alito, strong defenders of the Constitution, as his Attorney General.
Then, he can immediately nominate a new US Supreme Court Justice!
Make America Great Again! 🇺🇸
Left’s meltdown continues. pic.twitter.com/xfsemfPgwG
— Sam Brown (@CaptainSamBrown) November 21, 2024
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Other names that have been floated for attorney general include Attorney Mark Paoletta, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Trump only has a few positions left to fill in his new cabinet. Some of his picks, including Gaetz, have caused a stir on Capitol Hill and in legacy media newsrooms. Decorated veteran Pete Hegseth, the nominee for Defense Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, and Tulsi Gabbard, the nominee for Director of National Intelligence, have all come under fire after being tapped by Trump.