Victor Davis Hanson Explains Why He Thinks Matt Gaetz Could Be Trump’s ‘Sacrificial Lamb’ Pick

By Hailey Gomez, Daily Caller News Foundation | November 19, 2024

Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson stated on his podcast Tuesday that he believes former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz could be President-elect Donald Trump’s “sacrificial lamb” pick following his nomination as attorney general.

In a social media post on Nov. 13, Trump announced Gaetz as one of his Cabinet picks, stating that the lawmaker would help bring an end to “Weaponized Government.” On “The Victor Davis Hanson Show,” the senior fellow highlighted how he believed Trump’s picks share a common thread of pushing back against the traditional government, noting that while some Trump supporters may agree with the choice, others have started to question Gaetz’s background.

“Then the other people say, ‘Well, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. We have to be effective here. Matt Gaetz is not a prosecutor. This is the top prosecutorial job in the country. He’s never been a federal prosecutor. He’s never really been a lawyer to any great degree. His family was in politics. He went right into politics. I don’t think that he has the temperament to represent and protect the MAGA view of what needs to be done in the DOJ. He doesn’t have the skills or the experience or the age.’ So those are the two views,” Hanson said. “I’m not going to adjudicate them, but this is what I think is going to happen. I don’t know if it’s deliberate, Jack, or it’s inadvertent.”

“Matt Gaetz resigned his House seat. Matt Gaetz was the architect of the dethronement of Kevin McCarthy. Did you hear what Kevin McCarthy said?” Hanson asked. “They asked him, ‘What do you think about Gaetz?’ He started laughing. He’s very close to Trump. He started laughing. He said, ‘He’ll never be confirmed. It’s a joke.’ He must know something. I don’t know if he’ll get out of it.”

Following Gaetz’s nomination, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson revealed that the lawmaker had submitted his resignation to Congress “effective immediately.” Hanson went on to state that he believes there are people within the Republican Party who opposed Gaetz’s closeness to Trump, and they allegedly supported the Florida lawmaker’s appointment in order to push for his resignation from Congress.

However, Hanson noted that Gaetz will have to answer a series of questions from senators regarding his history, emphasizing that even Republicans, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, were non-committal about confirming Gaetz.

“So they’re going to these guys and say, ‘Now, listen, you guys on the Judiciary Committee, do not put us in a position where we’re going to have to vote against Trump. So you kill this, strangle this appointment in the committee,” Hanson said. “That’s going to be very tough because you don’t want to vote along with Schumer or somebody. So anyway, they’re going to do this.”

“Then Trump is going to say, ‘Look, you guys.’ He’s going to call in all the MAGA people and said ‘I got you the ultra, ultra MAGA appointment for the most important job in the country. I tried my best, and it didn’t work. It was beyond mine. I couldn’t control the Senate, just like I couldn’t get Scott appointed majority leader. They have a mind of their own, and I accept that. So I did my best to get Matt elevated, and he got stopped.’ Then he’s going to go tell the Senate general, ‘I am really angry at you. But do not, I warn you, do not do that with Tulsi Gabbard or RFK or Pete Hegseth.’ I think he was a sacrificial lamb. I really do,” Hanson said.

Since Gaetz’ nomination, the former Florida lawmaker has received massive pushback from Democrats across the political spectrum. Former prosecutor Andrew Weissmann called Gaetz’s nomination a “laughing stock on the right.” In addition to the backlash from Democrats, Republicans have also cast doubt on Gaetz being confirmed in the position. Some have privately stated they don’t see how the lawmaker will be approved by a majority, according to NBC News.

Hailey Gomez is a General Assignment Reporter at The Daily Signal

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