The New York Times’ Maggie Haberman on Monday said President-elect Donald Trump “is not backing off” when it comes to nominating former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) as his attorney general, despite the widespread backlash from both sides of the aisle over Gaetz’s potential appointment.
But in private, Haberman told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, the returning POTUS has reportedly admitted “in discussions with people that he thinks Gaetz’s chances of getting confirmed are … the odds are less than 50% or less than even.”
Trump is “calling people, senators and others” and is “very focused on getting Gaetz over the line,” said Haberman.
Collins asked Haberman if Trump had an alternative nominee in mind should Gaetz not get the job, especially if a House Ethics Committee report into the firebrand politician is made public.
Attorney Todd Blanche, who defended Trump during his hush money criminal trial and who Trump has tapped for the deputy attorney general role, would certainly be in the running, said Haberman.
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