The Senate is currently controlled by 53 Republicans compared to 47 Democrats.

“Gaetz has a better chance of having dinner with Queen Elizabeth II than being confirmed by the Senate,” said Max Miller, a Trump ally and Republican.

He added: “I think it has a zero percent chance of getting through the Senate … reckless choice.”

Michael Guest, the Republican chairman of the ethics commission, said he was “surprised” by the decision to appoint Mr. Gaetz.

His commission is investigating the candidate for sex trafficking, allegations of illegal drug use, misuse of campaign funds and accepting bribes. It would be closed if Mr. Gaetz resigns to become attorney general.

Other Republicans described Appointment of Mr. Gaetz as a distraction so that Mr. Trump can choose another controversial but more acceptable candidate at a later date.

In the past, Ms. Gabbard has also come under harsh Republican criticism for her social media posts that contained pro-Kremlin narratives. She has been branded a “traitor” and accused of “pattering fake Russian propaganda”.

Trump’s secret strategy

But Trump may have a strategy up his sleeve to vet his nominations without any vetting.

The president-elect has asked the next Senate majority leader to allow recess appointments, which would allow him to unilaterally install members of his top team.

The powers to make recess appointments date back to the era of horse and buggy travel, when the Senate was often stopped for months because of the time it took to move across country.

To avoid delaying key appointments, the Founding Fathers inserted an exception into the Constitution, allowing presidents to fill vacancies during a recess.

George W Bush made 171 recess appointments, Bill Clinton made 139 and Barack Obama had at least 32, according to the Congressional Research Service.

The controversial tactic, which usually draws accusations of power-grabbing, was not used by either Trump or Biden.

In 2014, the Supreme Court ruled against a number of Mr. Obama’s appointments, branding them unconstitutional.

By stringing his three controversial elections into office, Trump would be one step closer to carrying out his “deep state” revenge.

The president-elect has long demonized the intelligence community, especially after he accused Russia of being behind a campaign to help him defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016. Trump later sided with Putin when asked if he believed in his own intelligence agencies or in the president of Russia. a joint press conference two years later in Helsinki.

A supportive attorney general could also agree to release the names of Justice Department and FBI officials behind the investigation into Trump’s alleged impeachment. confidential documents from the White Housewhich ended with his felony charge.

It bothered many DoJ officials, who spoke of their fears that Mr. Gaetz would become their boss in less than two months.

Dave Laufman, a former senior official, said the Republican would turn the department into a “zoo for Trump.”

While an unnamed official still serving in the department told ABC News there would be “mass resignations if he is sworn in.”