After his previous attorney general nominee, U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), withdrew from consideration on Thursday, President Donald Trump selected a new candidate for the post later in the day.
In a statement, Trump explained why former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi deserves the opportunity to lead the Justice Department.
According to The Hill:
Bondi was a swift pick just hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) withdrew himself from consideration for the role.
“For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – Not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting Crime, and Making America Safe Again. I have known Pam for many years — She is smart and tough, and is an AMERICA FIRST Fighter, who will do a terrific job as Attorney General!“ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
News of his selection quickly began to spread via social media:
Perhaps the most consequential role the President will fill is that of his Attorney General, and there is no one more qualified than my dearest friend and sister @pambondi.
She has been by the President’s side since day one and will be by him until the end. Congratulations to… https://t.co/owgqdo9Gaj pic.twitter.com/ojFOoak0x9
— Brooke Rollins (@BrookeLRollins) November 21, 2024
BREAKING: Donald Trump nominates former Florida AG Pam Bondi as the next Attorney General of the United States. pic.twitter.com/uTH9tZ5OzP
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) November 21, 2024
Pam Bondi to Mark Cuban before the election:
“Underestimate us, this is gonna be fun”
She has just been nominated for AG. pic.twitter.com/wlvONA9PvK
— Wojciech Pawelczyk (@WojPawelczyk) November 21, 2024
NBC News also covered the breaking news:
Bondi has long ties to Trump. During the 2016 Republican National Convention, she joined in “lock her up” chants aimed at former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and was then part of Trump’s defense team during his first impeachment trial.
After Trump lost the 2020 election, Bondi was involved in efforts to overturn the results, falsely claiming that Trump had “won Pennsylvania” during a news conference in Philadelphia.
Earlier on Thursday, Gaetz announced that he was withdrawing his name from consideration to be the attorney general, arguing that his “confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.”
Here’s some additional coverage of the recent development:
BREAKING: President-elect Trump announces Pam Bondi as his new pick for US attorney general. pic.twitter.com/LaEZLd9p45
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 21, 2024