Trump transition updates: Trump taps America First think tank CEO as agriculture secretary

President-elect Trump said he "greatly appreciate[s] the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General" in a social media post shortly after Gaetz announced his withdrawal from the role.

"He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!" Trump posted.

Gaetz informed Trump late Thursday morning he'd be withdrawing, sources told ABC News.

Sources told ABC News in the last few days it became clear to the Trump team that Gaetz was not going to have enough votes for a Senate confirmation -- with sources close to the president-elect telling ABC News that there was "no path to 50" senators.

-ABC News' Jonathan Karl, John Santucci, Katherine Faulders and Lalee Ibssa

Former Rep. Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he is withdrawing his name from consideration to be Donald Trump’s attorney general.

“I had excellent meetings with Senators yesterday,” Gaetz wrote in a post on X. “I appreciate their thoughtful feedback - and the incredible support of so many. While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition. There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I'll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump's DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”

“I remain fully committed to see that Donald J. Trump is the most successful President in history. I will forever be honored that President Trump nominated me to lead the Department of Justice and I'm certain he will Save America,” Gaetz wrote.

The woman who accused Pete Hegseth of sexual assault in 2017 told police at the time that he took her phone and blocked her from leaving his hotel room on the night of the incident, according to a 22-page police report obtained by ABC News.

The report, compiled in Oct. 2017 by the Monterey Police Department, provides graphic new details of an alleged altercation that now threatens to derail Hegseth's bid to become President-elect Donald Trump's Defense Secretary.

The report documents a police investigation that did not result in charges against the former Fox News star. It includes interviews with the woman, who is identified only as Jane Doe, and Hegseth, who told police that the encounter was consensual.

Read more here.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Department of Defense, is on Capitol Hill Thursday meeting with Republican senators and making his case for the job.

Hegseth is joined by Vice President-elect JD Vance, and the two huddled in Vance's office Thursday morning.

Sen. John Barrasso issued a statement this morning following his meeting with Hegseth calling him a "strong nominee."

"Pete pledged that the Pentagon will focus on strength and hard power -- not the current administration's woke political agenda," Barrasso said.

Hegseth's nomination and eventual hearing will be managed by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The top Republican on the committee, Sen. Roger Wicker, was spotted entering Vance's office and is meeting with Hegseth now.

-ABC News' Mariam Khan and Allison Pecorin