Matt Gaetz's Three Priorities as Attorney General

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Florida Representative Matt Gaetz to serve as his attorney general.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump said Gaetz was a "deeply gifted and tenacious attorney" and that as head of the Justice Department, the conservative lawmaker would "end Weaponized Government."

"Matt will end Weaponized Government, protect our Borders, dismantle Criminal Organizations and restore Americans' badly-shattered Faith and Confidence in the Justice Department," Trump wrote.

"He is a Champion for the Constitution and the Rule of Law," he continued, adding in a separate post, "Matt will root out the systemic corruption at DOJ, and return the Department to its true mission of fighting Crime, and upholding our Democracy and Constitution."

Trump's statement offers insight into what Gaetz's priorities may be as attorney general, so does footage of the congressman from December 2020, when he delivered the keynote speech at Turning Point USA 's annual conference in Michigan.

"In the next term of Donald Trump, whether that's in 2021 or 2025, maybe he ought to pick me to be the attorney general," Gaetz said, adding, "I'd go easy on marijuana, tough on Big Tech, and I would go after the deep state."

'Easy on Marijuana'

During his time in Congress , Gaetz has been a vocal supporter of legalizing marijuana. In 2022, he was one of three Republican members of the House to approve a Democratic-led bill to federally legalize marijuana, titled the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act.

David Culver, the senior vice president for public affairs at the U.S. Cannabis Council, said in a news release on Wednesday that Gaetz was "one of the most pro-cannabis Republicans on Capitol Hill."

"By tapping him to serve as the nation's top law enforcement officer, President-elect Trump is signaling his commitment to make good on his campaign promises around cannabis reform," Culver added.

With Gaetz as attorney general, the U.S. could see the passing of the SAFE Banking Act, which would ensure that financial institutions are protected from being penalized by federal regulators for working with state-legal cannabis businesses.

Under Gaetz, marijuana could also be reclassified as a Schedule III drug, meaning it would be defined as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence and could be used for medicinal purposes. As a Schedule I drug, marijuana is currently classed as having a high abuse risk and therefore no acceptable medical use.

'Tough on Big Tech'

Gaetz has a history of going after Big Tech. He has accused Silicon Valley companies of silencing conservatives, and in recent years, he has become a vocal proponent of antitrust action, which seeks to prevent companies from abusing their power and restricting competition.

"The internet's hall monitors out in Silicon Valley, they think they can suppress us, discourage us. Maybe if you're just a little less patriotic. Maybe if you just conform to their way of thinking a little more, then you'll be allowed to participate in the digital world," Gaetz said in 2021 after Trump, following the January 6 riot, was barred from multiple social media platforms .

"Well, you know what? Silicon Valley can't cancel this movement, or this rally, or this congressman," he told the audience. "We have a Second Amendment in this country, and I think we have an obligation to use it."

Gaetz's appointment as attorney general suggests that the Federal Trade Commission's broad approach to antitrust enforcement may enjoy some level of support from the second Trump administration, while large tech companies—such as Meta , Google and Microsoft —may see more lawsuits alleging market monopolization.

'Go After the Deep State'

Gaetz has supported Trump's theories about a "deep state" within the government.

Hours before the president-elect announced his nomination of Gaetz, the congressman wrote a post on X, formerly Twitter , that echoed Trump's frequent claims that he had been unfairly targeted by the justice system.

"We ought to have a full court press against this WEAPONIZED government that has been turned against our people," Gaetz wrote in the now-deleted post. "And if that means ABOLISHING every one of the three letter agencies, from the FBI to the ATF, I'm ready to get going!"