Donald Trump has named Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, as his pick for U.S. Attorney General, just hours after Representative Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration due to opposition from Senate Republicans. Gaetz’s nomination had become untenable amid allegations of sexual misconduct, which led to a lack of support from key Republican senators.
Bondi’s appointment reflects Trump’s continued push to place loyal allies in critical positions of power, a strategy he has consistently pursued throughout his political career. While Bondi had not actively campaigned for the role, her longstanding support for Trump, including her role in defending him during his first impeachment trial, made her a natural choice. Her strong ties to Trump’s inner circle and her political positioning in Florida also made her a more palatable option for Senate Republicans, contrasting with Gaetz, who struggled to gain their backing.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Bondi’s background as a prosecutor, highlighting her tough stance on crime. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals,” Trump wrote, adding that she would bring the Department of Justice (DOJ) back to its core mission of fighting crime and ensuring public safety.
Bondi’s selection comes after years of loyal service to Trump, beginning with her vocal support for his 2016 presidential campaign. She also played a key role in defending him during his first impeachment trial, supported his false claims regarding the 2020 election, and remained a staunch advocate throughout the 2024 campaign.
While Trump initially considered a more conventional list of candidates for Attorney General, including figures like Mark Paoletta, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, and Robert Guiffra from the law firm Sullivan & Cromwell, he ultimately gravitated toward Gaetz, seeing him as a combative, media-savvy figure. However, Gaetz’s nomination quickly faced resistance from Senate Republicans, who expressed doubts about his ability to secure confirmation.
By Thursday morning, Trump had made the decision to move forward without Gaetz. After discussions with Senate leaders, Trump informed Gaetz that he lacked the necessary support in the Senate to be confirmed. Gaetz, acknowledging the situation, withdrew from consideration.
Trump expressed appreciation for Gaetz’s efforts in a statement, thanking him for his work in seeking the Attorney General position but acknowledging that the situation had become politically untenable. Gaetz, for his part, accepted the reality that key Republican senators, including Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Lisa Murkowski, would not support his nomination.