Internet Loses Its Mind Over Matt Gaetz's U.S. Attorney General Nomination

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, whose eyebrows stunned the internet when he delivered an otherwise forgettable speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July, has sent shock waves through social media once again.

Earlier this afternoon, Donald Trump announced that he will nominate the four-term Florida congressman — who previously made headlines for his alleged involvement in the sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl — to lead the U.S. Departent of Justice (DOJ) as attorney general. (That same DOJ closed the investigation in early 2023 without filing charges.)

"It is my great honor to announce that Congressman Matt Gaetz, of Florida, is hereby nominated to be the attorney general of the United States," the once and future U.S. president wrote on his social-media platform, Truth Social. "Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney, trained at the William & Mary College of Law, who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice..."

Trump concluded his glowing encomium a hundred or so words later, promising that "Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the department to its true mission of fighting crime, and upholding our democracy and Constitution. We must have honesty, integrity, and transparency at DOJ. Under Matt's leadership, all Americans will be proud of the Department of Justice once again."

Gaetz's own announcement on the platform previously known as Twitter was more direct (and obeisant). Above screenshots of his new boss' introduction, the Panhandle politician offered, "It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!"

Reactions across the internet were quick to pour in from Republicans and Democrats alike. Some of them were even worth collecting for posterity, as demonstrated by the selection below.

"Asked for his reaction to the Gaetz nom, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho): "Are you shittin' me?" Huffington Post journalist Jonathan Nicholson posted on X.

Asked for his reaction to the Gaetz nom, Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho): "Are you shittin' me?"

— Jonathan Nicholson (@JNicholsonInDC) November 13, 2024

Others were quick to point out Gaetz's alleged attendance at a drug-fueled sex party back in 2017 with a high school junior at the time.

"Matt Gaetz is going to be the absolute man at whatever high school party he's going to this weekend," social media expert Bailey Carlin of Bad Brain Digital Consulting chimed in.

Matt Gaetz is gonna be the absolute man at whatever high school party he’s going to this weekend

— B.W. Carlin (@BaileyCarlin) November 13, 2024

The sex-trafficking investigation is really on everyone's minds following the news.

Matt Gaetz is severely underqualified to serve as Attorney General," another X user wrote. "For more on this, Google “Matt Gaetz barely legal."

Matt Gaetz is severely underqualified to serve as Attorney General. For more on this Google “Matt Gaetz barely legal”

— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) November 13, 2024

The X account for The Daily Show chimed in with, "The Department of Justice isn't within 100 feet of a school, is it?"

The Department of Justice isn't within 100 feet of a school, is it? https://t.co/FYDRR2tk21

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) November 13, 2024

No, really, Gaetz cannot escape the sex trafficking allegations.

"Finally, we will have an attorney general intimately familiar with human trafficking, age of consent, and the war on drugs," an X user wrote.

Finally we will have an attorney general intimately familiar with human trafficking, age of consent, and the war on drugs

— tyson brody (@tysonbrody) November 13, 2024

And if Gaetz does get the U.S. Senate's approval, the end is surely near.

"It’s like he’s releasing the casting list for the final season of America," political strategist Keith Edwards warned. 

It’s like he’s releasing the casting list for the final season of America

— Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) November 13, 2024

Apparently, Gaetz is ready to get to work in Trump's administration pending Senate confirmation after he resigned from the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday night.

"🚨Speaker Mike Johnson just said that Rep. Matt Gaetz already resigned from Congress today, meaning that the House Ethics Committee’s ongoing probe into allegations of child sex trafficking ends as does his tenure, and no report will be issued," Associated Press congressional reporter Farnoush Amiri wrote on X.