Anti-LGBTQ+MAGA diehards are upset that former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) withdrew his nomination to be attorney general. Though President-elect Donald Trump has named his former impeachment lawyer and formerFlorida attorney general Pam Bondi as Gaetzs replacement, some Trump supporters still think Gaetz wouldve been a good pick to lead the Department of Justice (DOJ), despite the accusations of statutory rape and child sex trafficking against him.While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition, Gaetz wrote in a Thursday social media post announcing his resignation. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus Ill be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trumps [Department of Justice] must be in place and ready on Day 1. I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. Related Sen. Ron Johnson compares Rachel Levine being trans to Matt Gaetzs sex trafficking allegations Look over there! MAGA Republicans are likely to continue using trans people to distract from their own actions. His withdrawal is one of the quickest ever for a presidential Cabinet nomination, and its not entirely clear if he can get his House seat back seeing as he resigned from the chamber after Trump nominated him, promising not to take his oath of office for the seat again in 2025. Nonetheless, MAGA diehards are lamenting his withdrawal. Insights for the LGBTQ+ community Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Right-wing pundit Matt Wallace commented, Super disappointed Matt Gaetz was forced by the elites to drop out. They probably threatened his life because most of them have done crimes so graphic I cant even describe them here. They cant have someone like Matt investigating them. He got the callSuper disappointed Matt Gaetz was forced by the elites to drop out.They probably threatened his life because most of them have done crimes so graphic I cant even describe them here.They cant have someone like Matt investigating them. Matt Wallace (@MattWallace888) November 21, 2024Valentina Gomez, a failed Missouri secretary of state candidate who used homophobic slurs and anti-queer rhetoric in her campaign wrote, Come hell or high water, I have your back Matt. God bless you and Ginger.Come hell or high water, I have your back Matt. God bless you and Ginger. Valentina Gomez (@ValentinaForUSA) November 21, 2024 Right-wing pundit Kevin Smith wrote, As a friend It kills me to hear this As an American, we as a nation will miss out on your leadership at the DOJ.As a friend It kills me to hear this As an American, we as a nation will miss out on your leadership at the DOJ kevin smith (@kevin_smith45) November 21, 2024George a conservative influencer who has spread election misinformation, according tothe media watchdog group Snopes wrote to Gaetz, What the swamp has done to you is truly sickening. What the swamp has done to you is truly sickening. George (@BehizyTweets) November 21, 2024Conservative commenter Paul A. Szypula wrote, Gaetz wouldve been an amazing AG. Hes 100% MAGA.Gaetz wouldve been an amazing AG. Hes 100% MAGA. Paul A. Szypula (@Bubblebathgirl) November 21, 2024 Kylie Jane Kremer, Executive Director for the Woman for America First, wrote, WTF?! We want YOU, Matt Gaetz to lead the DOJ! We gave [Donald J. Trump] a mandate and he chose you!Despite her claim about Trumps mandate, Trump margin of victory in the 2024 presidential election just 1.6 percentage points is one of the tiniest in history.WTF?! We want YOU, Matt Gaetz to lead the DOJ! We gave DJT a mandate and he chose you! Kylie Jane Kremer (@KylieJaneKremer) November 21, 2024 Numerous left-wing commenters gleefully mocked Gaetz for dropping out, calling him a pedophile over reports that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl (and possibly a second minor) at drug-fueled sex parties. But Republicans expressed relief that theyll no longer have to decide whether to oppose Trumps nomination in a Senate confirmation battle.Even Republican Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) wrote, Justice has been served after Gaetzs withdrawal, posting an image of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) holding up the speakers gavel with red shining eyes. Gaetz infamously led the successful effort to kick out McCarthy from the speakership in late 2023.After his ouster, McCarthy said, Ill give you the truth why Im not speaker. Its because one person, a member of Congress, wanted me to stop an ethics complaint because he slept with a 17-year-old, an ethics complaint that started before I ever became speaker, and thats illegal and Im not going to get in the middle. Did he do it or not? I dont know. But ethics is looking at it and he wanted me to influence it. Justice has been served. pic.twitter.com/b5Aq5yQZfz Mike Lawler (@lawler4ny) November 21, 2024Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.