Geraldo Rivera, a television personality and former Trump ally, sharply criticized President-elect Trump’s nomination of Matt Gaetz for attorney general, calling it a “horrible, creepy choice.”
Upon hearing the news, Rivera admitted to being physically repulsed, stating, “When I heard that Matt Gaetz was picked to be attorney general, I threw up in my mouth,” during a Thursday evening appearance on NewsNation.
Rivera, who has since distanced himself from Trump, publicly endorsed Vice President Harris for the 2024 election. In a post on the platform X, he labeled Trump as a “sore loser” who cannot be trusted to uphold the Constitution.
In his remarks on Thursday, Rivera described Trump’s Cabinet appointments as “blowing up Washington D.C.,” with Gaetz’s nomination serving as a direct challenge to the president’s critics. Rivera argued that Gaetz, who lacks legal experience, is unqualified for the role, referring to him as “barely a lawyer” and “clearly incompetent.”
Previously, Rivera took to X, calling Gaetz a “douche” in a harsh post. Rivera is among a growing number of conservative figures speaking out against Gaetz’s nomination, although only a few moderate Republicans have publicly voiced opposition. To block Gaetz’s nomination, four Senate Republicans would need to vote against him. On Thursday, Sen. Joni Ernst from Iowa called the process an “uphill climb.”