Just hours after Republican Sen. John Thune was elected as the incoming Senate majority leader, President-elect Donald Trump presented him with one of his first tests — an announcement that he intends to nominate House Republican Matt Gaetz as attorney general.

Donald Trump was elected with a mandate last week. He's now using it to challenge Republican senators to confirm his Cabinet picks.

Many GOP lawmakers are shocked by President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for attorney general and are skeptical as to whether he can be confirmed by the Senate. (R-Fla.) was announced as Trump’s pick for leading the Justice Department on Wednesday—surprising many Republicans in Washington.

President-elect Trump’s decision to tap Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to become attorney general caught Senate Republicans completely flat-footed, and put the party on the defensive immediately over one of the most prominent — and polarizing — Cabinet selections.