Television personality and former Trump ally Geraldo Rivera has openly criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general. Rivera expressed his disapproval during an appearance on NewsNation’s “On Balance with Leland Vittert,” stating, “When I heard that Matt Gaetz was picked to be attorney general, I threw up in my mouth.”
Rivera, 81, who previously endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, described Gaetz as “a horrible, creepy choice” and questioned the rationale behind the nomination. He further commented on Gaetz’s potential access to sensitive information, noting that as attorney general, Gaetz would have “access to the files” of investigations into himself.
In a separate discussion with NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo, Rivera elaborated on his concerns, stating, “This is blowing up Washington D.C. and the selection particularly of Matt Gaetz to run the Justice Department is the giant F-you to the critics.” He also labeled Gaetz as “perennially under investigation,” “barely a lawyer,” and a “clearly incompetent person.”
Rivera’s criticism extended to social media, where he referred to Gaetz in a derogatory fashion in a post on X. He predicted there would be no way the Republicans in the Senate would confirm Gaetz for attorney general.
The nomination of Gaetz has sparked a range of reactions from political figures. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) expressed a cautious stance, stating, “I’m predisposed to try to help presidents with their picks. But he’ll have to answer some tough questions in the hearing, and we’ll see how he does.”
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voiced skepticism, remarking, “I do not see him as a serious candidate.” She added that the president can nominate whomever he wants, but the Senate’s role in nominations is to provide advice. She expressed doubt that her Senate colleagues would advise the appointment of Matt Gaetz.
Gaetz, a staunch supporter of Trump, has faced previous investigations, including a federal probe into allegations of sex trafficking, which concluded without charges. His nomination is expected to face rigorous scrutiny during the Senate confirmation process.
The controversy surrounding Gaetz’s nomination highlights the challenges President-elect Trump may encounter in securing confirmations for his Cabinet selections. As the Senate prepares for confirmation hearings, the responses from both sides of the aisle will be closely monitored.