Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has been named by Donald Trump as his pick for Attorney General, following the withdrawal of Representative Matt Gaetz. Gaetz had stepped aside due to mounting opposition from Senate Republicans, who had voiced concerns over multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
Bondi’s nomination signals Trump’s ongoing effort to install loyalists in key positions, continuing a trend of appointing figures with close ties to him. Although Bondi hadn’t actively pursued the position, her strong track record as a staunch defender of Trump and her past role in his first impeachment defense made her an attractive candidate. Bondi’s connections within Trump’s circle and the broader Senate Republican conference, in contrast to Gaetz’s contentious nomination, led to her being quickly endorsed by many of Trump’s senior advisers.
Trump took to Truth Social to announce the nomination, praising Bondi’s record as a prosecutor in Florida. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals,” Trump wrote, adding that she would refocus the Department of Justice (DOJ) on fighting crime and keeping America safe.
Should Bondi be confirmed by the Senate, her appointment would be seen as the culmination of years of loyalty to Trump, dating back to the 2016 election. Bondi was an early and vocal supporter of Trump’s candidacy, and her involvement extended throughout his presidency and beyond, including assisting with Trump’s legal defense during his first impeachment trial and continuing to promote his claims about the 2020 election.
Bondi’s path to the Attorney General position came after a somewhat unexpected turn of events. Initially, Trump had considered a number of more conventional candidates for the post, including Mark Paoletta, former counsel at the White House Office of Management and Budget; Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey; and Robert Guiffra, co-chair of the law firm Sullivan and Cromwell. However, Trump was drawn to the more combative nature of Gaetz, whom he nominated in the first place.
But Gaetz’s bid quickly faltered after a series of meetings with Republican senators, who expressed their opposition. By Thursday morning, Trump had a rare moment of pragmatism and informed Gaetz that he didn’t have the necessary votes for confirmation. Gaetz, acknowledging the political realities, withdrew from the race.
Despite Gaetz’s withdrawal, Trump expressed appreciation for the Florida congressman’s efforts. In a statement from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump commended Gaetz for his commitment but acknowledged that he didn’t want to become a distraction for the administration. Gaetz himself conceded that opposition from several key senators, including Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski, would have blocked his confirmation.
