A chaotic moment unfolded during Friday night’s episode of MSNBC’s 11th Hour when a guest made an awkward remark while discussing President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for Attorney General.
The segment quickly unraveled after a poor choice of words left the panel stunned and host Stephanie Ruhle scrambling to cut to a commercial break.
On Wednesday, Trump announced Gaetz as his pick to lead the Department of Justice, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
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In his announcement, Trump called Gaetz a “deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” and outlined his expectations for the nominee.
“[Gaetz will] end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations, and restore Americans’ badly shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department,” Trump stated.
He added that Gaetz would “root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution.”
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions, with conservatives praising Gaetz’s commitment to reform and critics voicing skepticism about his confirmation prospects in the Senate.
The nomination became a focal point on Ruhle’s 11th Hour, where a panel of commentators weighed in. Former Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) dismissed the nomination, suggesting it was a political ploy to position Gaetz for a future gubernatorial run in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis will be term-limited in 2026.
“He’ll never get a vote,” Rose said. “They’ll have to discard this race, and he’s gonna spend the next two years running for governor saying that, ‘The deep state establishment prevented me from winning,’ and that’s the quintessential MAGA campaign for governor.”
Tom Rogers, editor-at-large for Newsweek, agreed with Rose’s assessment but derailed the conversation with an ill-advised comment.
“I do agree. He will probably have to pull out,” Rogers said, pausing before quickly acknowledging his choice of words. “Excuse me, that’s a bad choice of words.”
The comment drew audible reactions from the panel, with some members visibly covering their faces. Ruhle, attempting to maintain composure, appeared shocked as Rogers reiterated his prediction.
“He will have to pull out before there’s a hearing, I think,” Rogers added. “This is really not gonna be something that goes over well.”
The segment quickly lost its focus, prompting Ruhle to end it abruptly. “I just threw up in my mouth, and we have to go to commercial,” she said, signaling an early break in the broadcast.
“He will probably have to pull out.” Poor choice of words by guest Tom Rogers about Matt Gaetz sends Stephanie Ruhle spinning. (Video: MSNBC) pic.twitter.com/4aLfTxaPh3
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) November 16, 2024
Meanwhile, the political world continues to debate the viability of Gaetz’s nomination as Attorney General and what it signals for the future of the Department of Justice.
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