In announcing Gaetz for the role of U.S. attorney general, Trump praised the Florida lawmaker for being “a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney” who will restore “faith and confidence in the Justice Department.”

Hilton revealed his first reaction to Gaetz’s selection was to say, “Wow.” He also stated that even though most people recognize Gaetz as a “firebrand” conservative, most are unaware of how he is “very smart on policy.”

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“I got to know that when I had him as a guest on my show over the years,” Hilton said on Fox News’s The Story with Martha MacCallum. “I remember the very first time he came on my show, we had a particular topic and during the break, I asked him about the next thing that we were going to discuss. It was a completely unrelated topic, and he immediately came out with some incredibly smart, policy-based observations that were so impressive, and I said ‘great, join for that discussion as well,’ and I’ve stayed in touch with him over the years. He’s very smart, he knows policy, he’s a serious guy, he doesn’t always necessarily show that because he goes for the jugular politically, but it’s wrong to dismiss him as just a political firebrand. He’s much, much more than that, there’s a depth to him that doesn’t always come across.”

Hilton added that by selecting Gaetz, Trump is giving voters “what they voted for,” suggesting the public’s view of the nation’s justice system has “completely collapsed.” He added that the whole U.S. government needs a “reformed jolt” to give it a major shake-up and that Gaetz is now the most recent person Trump is recruiting to provide this jolt.

Many Republicans have praised Gaetz’s selection, including fellow Florida Reps. Byron Donalds (R-FL) and Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL). Donalds contended there is no one better to “clean house” at the U.S. Department of Justice, while Luna praised Trump’s choice for attorney general as “exactly what we need.”

Congratulations to Florida Man @mattgaetz. Who better to clean house at the Department of Justice! https://t.co/euZumcC3Od

— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) November 13, 2024

Very happy for my friend @mattgaetz ! He is a fighter and that is exactly what we need! pic.twitter.com/PlGEvtAQBV

— Anna Paulina Luna (@realannapaulina) November 13, 2024

Gaetz’s selection comes hot on the heels of Trump recruiting ex-Democratic lawmaker Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. The former president has also recruited Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) as his pick for secretary of state.

It is unknown who Trump will select as his press secretary, though Alina Habba, Trump’s attorney, has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the position. When asked about the possibility of accepting this position, Habba stated she would consider it “very seriously.”