Cruz and Trump are viewed as strong allies. But this latest move has everyone confused.
And Ted Cruz just altered Donald Trump’s administration in a major way.
Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) played a pivotal behind-the-scenes role last month, reportedly advising President-elect Donald Trump to pivot away from his original pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
According to Politico, Cruz informed Trump that Gaetz lacked sufficient Senate support for confirmation, prompting the president to shift strategies with his subsequent nominees, including Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth.
Cruz’s involvement came amid a storm of controversy surrounding Gaetz, who faced s*xual misconduct allegations, including accusations detailed in a House Ethics Committee report that was later buried.
The report alleged that Gaetz had a s*xual relationship with a minor in 2017. Cruz, 53, met privately with Gaetz to discuss the situation before relaying his concerns to Trump.
The senator, who previously served as Texas’ solicitor general, reportedly expressed doubts about Gaetz’s suitability for leading the Department of Justice.
Following their discussion, Trump reportedly called Gaetz the next morning to deliver the news. “I don’t think you’ve got a path,” Trump told his nominee, as reported by Politico. Shortly after, Gaetz withdrew from consideration.
Sources revealed that a private whip count shared with Trump and Gaetz indicated there was no viable path to confirmation for the Florida Republican.
Cruz was present with Trump during key deliberations, including during a joint appearance at SpaceX’s rocket launch in Texas on Nov. 19, which may have provided an opportunity for further discussions.
Gaetz, 42, formally withdrew two days after meeting with GOP senators on Capitol Hill. In a statement, he attributed his decision to the potential distractions his nomination could bring to Trump’s transition team.
“It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz wrote on X. “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.”
He added, “Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”
Trump’s transition team has since taken a more public approach to rallying Senate support for its appointments.
Despite the controversy surrounding Gaetz, Trump has displayed unwavering confidence in his pick for the Pentagon.
“Pete Hegseth is doing very well. His support is strong and deep, much more so than the Fake News would have you believe,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last week.
“He was a great student – Princeton/Harvard educated – with a Military state of mind. He will be a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense, one who leads with charisma and skill.”
As the transition process continues, Trump’s team appears intent on minimizing distractions and ensuring a smooth start for his administration.
Gaetz’s departure from the attorney general race serves as a reminder of the high stakes and challenges in securing Senate confirmations, especially with RINOs (Republican In Name Only) and Democrats who are willing to vote against Trump’s nominees.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
