In selecting Matt Gaetz to be his next attorney general, President-elect Donald J. Trump chose a right-wing firebrand and internet troll who has spent part of the past seven years in Congress insulting the very people whose votes he needs to be confirmed for the job.

Mr. Gaetz, the former congressman from Florida who resigned this week, is best known for leading the effort to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, whom he still frequently taunts. He has made waves for unsavory comments directed at abortion rights activists (whom he called ugly and overweight), and his Republican colleagues in the House, whom he frequently berated as weak and feckless.

He has also turned his megaphone on Republican senators who are now in charge of the effort to vet and confirm him. Given the G.O.P.’s slim Senate majority, Mr. Gaetz can afford to lose the support of only three Republicans (assuming all Democrats vote against him) if he wants to be confirmed.

So far, at least five have indicated they are skeptical that Mr. Gaetz could win confirmation. They include Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota and Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

Additionally, Senator John Cornyn of Texas called on Thursday for the release of a House Ethics Committee report into allegations of sexual misconduct, illegal drug use and other accusations against Mr. Gaetz (all of which the former congressman has denied).

Here are the senators who have been the targets of Mr. Gaetz’s jabs, critiques and insults, which could come back to haunt him as he seeks their votes.

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