Donald Trump’s former Attorney-General pick Matt Gaetz gives first interview since stepping aside

US President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial first choice for Attorney-General Matt Gaetz has sensationally broken his silence in his first interview after withdrawing from the role.

Formerly anointed Attorney-General Matt Gaetz has spoken for the first time since declining the honour to serve in US President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet.

Mr Gaetz appeared on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast on Friday after sensationally stepping aside amid ongoing rhetoric about sexual misconduct allegations which he is fighting.

“If the things (in) the House Ethics report were true, I would be under indictment and probably in a prison cell,” Mr Gaetz said.

“But of course, they’re false, because when you test them against other records, when you test them against other testimony, it all falls apart very quickly.”

Former US Representative Matt Gaetz says he won’t be returning to elected office. Picture: AFP.

Mr Gaetz insisted he would have refuted all the allegations made against him, however he did not wish to delay Mr Trump’s important work while the situation was being resolved.

The former congressman insisted he would not be returning to elected office and would instead continue to help team Trump behind the scenes such as by recruiting talent.

‘There is a play that is run in Washington when they’re trying to smear somebody and, you know, they go and dredge up false, years old allegations of the most salacious and click baity flavour possible,” Mr Gaettz said.

The interview came the same day as the judge in Mr Trump’s hush money trial opened the door to dismissing the charges entirely.

Mr Trump faces up to four years in prison after he was convicted earlier this year of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to silence porn star Stormy Daniels’s claim that they had an affair on the eve of the 2016 presidential election.

However on Friday Judge Juan Merchan ordered Mr Trump’s lawyers to file their argument for dismissal by December 2 with the prosecution to respond by December 9.

US President-elect Donald Trump, seen here in his mugshot, could have his charges dismissed. Picture: Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

Mr Trump’s lawyers last week indicated they wanted the case dismissed completely to “avoid unconstitutional impediments to President Trump’s ability to govern”.

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PAM BONDI NAMED AS TRUMP’S ATTORNEY GENERAL

Donald Trump tapped Pam Bondi, a staunch ally who helped defend the ex-leader against impeachment and joined lawyers who sought to overturn President Joe Biden’s election, as US attorney general.

“I am proud to announce former Attorney-General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney-General of the United States,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network, following US politician Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration.

Former Florida Attorney-General Pam Bondi. Picture: AFP

Mr Gaetz, who is fighting allegations of sexual misconduct, announced his decision with a post on X.

“It is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Mr 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.”

I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday. I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance…

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) November 21, 2024

The US President-elect reacted on his Truth Social platform: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney-General,” Mr Trump said about 20 minutes after Gaetz announced he was pulling out.

“He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” he added.

“Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”

Mr Gaetz’s decision came the day after he accompanied Vice President-elect JD Vance to the Capitol to meet with Republican senators.

Mr Vance had mixed success in setting up the meetings for Mr Gaetz who is fighting allegations of sexual misconduct.

Matt Gaetz and Vice President-elect JD Vance in the Capitol on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images.

The duo holed up in The Strom Thurmond Room, located the Capitol Rotunda, with several senators seen coming and going from the meeting area.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and South Carolina’s Senator Lindsey Graham were among the first to meet the pair inside the room.

“I fear the process surrounding the Gaetz nomination is turning into an angry mob, and unverified allegations are being treated as if they are true. I have seen this movie before,” Sen Graham said in a statement released by his office following the meeting.

Sen. Lindsey Graham speaks to the media after meeting with Vance and Gaetz. Picture: Getty Images.

Mr Trump’s Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, did not attend the meeting but he did escort Mr Vance and Mr Gatez as they walked the halls of the Capitol.

When questioned by reporters Senators Susan Collins, Cindy Hyde-Smith and Deb Fischer all declined to respond when asked if they would be taking a meeting.

Senators Jerry Moran and John Boozman both said they would not be joining Mr Gaetz and Mr Vance.

However, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy indicated he would hear him out.

Sen. Josh Hawley is surrounded by press after he leaves his meeting with Gaetz and Vance. Picture: Getty Images.

TRUMP ATTENDS SPACE X LAUNCH WITH MUSK

SpaceX aborted an attempt to catch the first stage booster of its Starship megarocket in the “chopstick” arms of its launch tower, opting instead for an ocean splashdown, a live feed showed.

The hitch came as President-elect Donald Trump joined SpaceX chief Elon Musk at the company’s Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas to watch the test flight, the latest sign of the budding bromance between the two billionaires.

It marks the company’s second attempt to catch its descending booster stage in the launch tower’s “chopstick” arms, an engineering marvel it first pulled off last month, cementing its dominance in reusable rocketry.

US President-elect Donald Trump greets Elon Musk as he arrives in Brownsville, Texas. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

The billionaire and President-elect hugged. Picture: Getty Images via AFP)

The duo’s bromance appears to be getting stronger by the day. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

“It was a beautiful thing to see,” Mr Trump declared in his election night victory speech, dramatically recounting the feat.

Sporting a red MAGA hat, Mr Trump greeted Musk warmly on Tuesday afternoon local time as the pair headed off to view the launch from the control room.

A 30-minute launch window opens at 4pm local time from the company’s Starbase in Boca Chica.

Elon Musk gives a tour to Donald Trump and other politicians of the control room before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks alongside Elon Musk (R) and Senate members including (L-R) Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). Picture: Getty Images via AFP

US President-elect Donald Trump looks on during a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

SpaceX founder and CEO Musk has been a constant presence at Trump’s side since the Republican’s election victory, joining him at a meeting with Argentina’s President Javier Milei and even at a UFC bout.

Mr Trump’s decision to travel to Musk’s home turf is the latest sign of the burgeoning bond between the billionaire duo, which has raised questions over possible conflicts of interests given SpaceX’s lucrative contracts with NASA and the Pentagon.

Donald Trump with Elon Musk (C) and Senate members including (L-R) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Rep. Ronny Jackson. Picture: Getty Images via AFP

Tuesday’s launch marks the quickest turnaround between test flights for the world’s most powerful rocket, a gleaming, 121-meter-tall (400-foot) stainless steel colossus central to Musk’s ambition of colonising Mars and making humanity a multiplanetary species.

NASA is also counting on a specialised version of Starship to ferry astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade under its Artemis program.

SpaceX Starship lifts off from Starbase in Boca Chica, Texas, for its sixth flight test. Picture: AFP

It marks the company's second attempt to catch its descending booster stage in the launch tower's "chopstick" arms. Picture: AFP

Starship's Super Heavy Booster approaches for a splashdown water landing off the coast of, Texas. Picture: AFP

Starship's Super Heavy Booster splashes down for a water landing off the coast of, Texas. Picture: AFP

Originally published as Donald Trump’s former Attorney-General pick Matt Gaetz gives first interview since stepping aside