Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., told Newsmax on Friday that former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for attorney general because he recognized that the incoming Trump administration has enough to tackle without adding an uphill confirmation battle to the list.

"I had the opportunity to serve with Matt for eight years here in the House, and Matt is an extremely intelligent individual, and he's smart enough to know that, with all the priorities that we have right now as a country, that we can't have distractions in the next Trump administration, nor can we have distractions here in the House, and hopefully, the Senate will also minimize its distractions," Bergman said during an appearance on Newsmax's "Wake Up America."

After Gaetz withdrew his name on Thursday, President-elect Donald Trump moved quickly to replace him by nominating former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to serve as U.S. attorney general in his new administration.

"As far as Pam, I'm excited for her because she's got the grit necessary to take on the folks who are going to use the legal system as lawfare against our citizens," Bergman said. "So I'm excited about the change, and this is the time to make the change in the Trump administration appointees. Are they going to get it 100% right on the get-go, on the start? No, but you've got a lot of good people, whether it be here in D.C., whether it be in Florida, around the country, who have the skill sets, the experience, and the perspective necessary to operate in the second Trump administration."

Bergman also commented on Trump's nomination of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense secretary.

"One of the things that I think is underreported is Pete's history in uniform, his combat history," he said. "He understands the military, especially at his rank — I believe he retired as a major — the ability to understand what's going on with those junior troops, what's going on with the industrial base. Is he a celebrity? Of course he's a celebrity. But the bottom line, he has the ability, with good advice, to grow into the job, and everybody at any level grows into the job. You just don't, because you pinned on a rank or pinned on a role, you automatically can operate at that every day with all the knowing that comes with the experience. But let's see how it goes when it comes to the confirmation."

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• Senate GOP Relieved, Disappointed Over Gaetz Withdrawal
• Fmr Trump Official: Scrutiny Now Ramps Up on Hegseth