Trump Fires Attorney General Pam Bondi, Todd Blanche To Step In
President Trump announced Thursday that Attorney General Pam Bondi is out, becoming the second cabinet secretary fired in just four weeks.
WHO’S IN: Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal defense attorney, will become acting Attorney General in the next month or so. There are reports that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin is a top candidate for the AG job, although nothing is confirmed.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT: Trump posted on Truth Social, calling Bondi “a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend,” noting that she will be “transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector.” But, Trump has reportedly been weighing Bondi’s future for months, frustrated with her handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and for not aggressively prosecuting Trump’s political opponents.
INSIDE THE SPLIT
Trump reportedly told Bondi she was being fired just before his primetime Iran address Wednesday night. It was just hours after the two were together at the Supreme Court for oral arguments on the birthright citizenship case.
BEHIND THE SCENES, frustration had been building. Trump allies say Bondi was not aggressive enough in pursuing investigations into political opponents, and her handling of the Epstein files became a major issue with both parties — and especially Trump’s base.
TRUMP’S POLITICAL FOES: Bondi’s inability to successfully prosecute several of Trump’s political adversaries, despite multiple attempts, reportedly fueled his frustration. Efforts included one failed case against former FBI Director James Comey, three failed attempts targeting New York Attorney General Letitia James, and a grand jury rejection of charges against six Democratic lawmakers.
EPSTEIN: Last year, Bondi told Fox News that Epstein’s client list was "sitting on my desk right now” — only for the Justice Department to later say there was no such evidence. The delayed and incomplete rollout of the Epstein files led to bipartisan backlash. The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Bondi over the Epstein file release, and lawmakers say they will still push for her deposition— even if she is no longer Attorney General.
Her fiery congressional testimony in February, when she deflected Epstein file questions by touting Trump-era achievements and stock market gains, was seen as an effort to stay aligned with the president. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
She now becomes the second cabinet official out in the past month, following Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem — signaling a broader reshuffling inside the administration. At the same time, Trump has been more restrained in firing top officials in his second term than in his first, which saw frequent abrupt dismissals.