WASHINGTON — Former Republican Representative Matt Gaetz announced Thursday that he is withdrawing from consideration to serve as attorney general under President-elect Donald Trump, citing concerns that his confirmation process had become a distraction for the incoming administration.

Gaetz, who was nominated by Trump earlier this month, shared his decision in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz wrote. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as attorney general.”

The decision came after Gaetz met with Republican senators earlier in the week, where questions surrounding his confirmation had reportedly raised doubts among key lawmakers. Gaetz expressed his gratitude for the support he had received, writing that he was “honored” by Trump’s nomination and remained committed to ensuring Trump’s success as president.

Trump, who had been lobbying lawmakers to support Gaetz’s nomination, released a statement following the announcement, saying, “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but…did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect.” Trump added that Gaetz has a “wonderful future” and praised his efforts.

Gaetz’s withdrawal marks the latest hurdle in Trump’s transition process as he seeks to finalize key appointments ahead of his inauguration.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.