(Photo credit: Gage Skidmore)
Another close ally of Donald Trump escalated the pressure on Republican senators wavering on confirming Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as the next attorney general. On Wednesday, Charlie Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, issued a direct threat to Republicans who are hesitating or outright rejecting Gaetz’s nomination, accroding to MSN.
“If you voted for [Merrick] Garland and won’t vote for Gaetz, you will face an immediate primary challenge,” Kirk wrote on X, previously known as Twitter. Known for his strong MAGA ties, Kirk’s comments followed similar warnings from Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who earlier criticized Republicans opposing Gaetz’s confirmation.
Kirk, who played a key role in organizing the Trump campaign’s ground efforts, was unequivocal in his message: “We’re not f–ing around,” he added, emphasizing the pressure on Republican senators to fall in line with Trump’s pick.
Tuberville had earlier weighed in during an appearance on Fox Business, suggesting that resistance to Gaetz’s nomination was coming from the “swamp creatures” in the Senate. “Everybody’s got an opinion up here, but at the end of the day, President Trump was elected by an enormous vote, and he deserves the team around him that he wants,” Tuberville said. “It’s not up to us to determine that”, told by The Hill.
The Alabama senator also took aim at Republicans who might oppose Gaetz, stressing that their job was simply to vote in line with the president. “You are not the United States of America. You have one vote in the U.S. Senate. You did not get elected president. Vote with President Trump,” Tuberville declared. “This is the last chance we’re going to have to save this country. And if you want to get in the way, fine. But we’re going to try to get you out of the Senate, too, if you try to do that”, report from Axois.
The GOP infighting over Gaetz’s nomination has highlighted the deep divides within the party, with some senators expressing concern over Gaetz’s qualifications, while others rally behind the president-elect’s choice. Kirk and Tuberville’s remarks underscore the high stakes as Trump’s allies intensify their push to secure Gaetz’s confirmation.
