'Middle finger': Columnist says Trump just issued a 'dare' for Republicans to disobey him

Donald Trump is kicking off his new presidency with a power move aimed at humiliating Senate Republicans, wrote Karen Tumulty for The Washington Post — and he's daring them to step out of line.

Specifically, that move is the nomination of far-right MAGA loyalist Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) to serve as attorney general, mere days before the House was set to vote on whether to release a potentially blistering ethics report into allegations he was involved in sex trafficking, illicit drug use, campaign finance violations, and other misconduct.

Senate Republicans are reportedly horrified with this move, but Tumulty reported Trump wants to test out his ability to force them to capitulate.

"What the president-elect has done with his latest round of picks, especially his jaw-dropping selection of Matt Gaetz to be attorney general, is offer a middle finger to the Senate," wrote Tumulty. "Count me as hopeful that this will never get as far as a vote on the floor of the chamber. It would put a provocateur and conspiracy theorist who was the subject of a federal sex-trafficking investigation in charge of the nation’s criminal justice apparatus."

It would take four Republican senators to sink the nomination. Already, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) is threatening to work to end the careers of any colleagues who step out of line on the Gaetz confirmation.

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Still, Tumulty wrote, there are signs Trump won't get a total rubber stamp, starting with the process of Senate Republicans selecting their own Majority Leader.

"The Senate’s incoming majority caucus showed it was not entirely supine to Trump and his base on Wednesday, when it selected Sen. John Thune (R-SD) to replace Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as its next leader. Thune is an institutionalist who actively worked to thwart Trump’s claims of a stolen election in 2020. Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who had been the favorite of leading MAGA influencers and was reported to be Trump’s preference, didn’t make it past the first round of balloting."

But that was a secret ballot, whereas Gaetz would be voted on publicly.

"This might actually be the cast of belligerent and incompetent — but unblinkingly loyal — government officials that Trump intends to build," Tumulty concluded. "Senators have a duty before them. Let’s hope we can count on them to do it."