By Nakiwala Barbra
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Pam Bondi, former attorney general of Florida, to serve as the next U.S. Attorney General. The announcement came Thursday evening following Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from consideration for the role.
Trump announced Bondi’s nomination on his Truth Social platform, praising her as a strong ally and effective leader. “Pam will restore the DOJ to its core mission of tackling crime and ensuring America’s safety,” he stated. “She is intelligent, strong, and a dedicated AMERICA FIRST fighter.”
Gaetz, originally nominated for the position, cited concerns about becoming a “distraction” during the transition process. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gaetz said, “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition.” He added that he would continue supporting the administration from a different capacity.
Who Is Pam Bondi?
Pam Bondi served as Florida’s first female attorney general from 2011 to 2019. During her tenure, she gained national attention for her legal battles, including an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act and lawsuits targeting opioid manufacturers. Bondi also defended Florida’s same-sex marriage ban in a controversial case following the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Bondi is a longtime Trump ally, serving as part of his legal team during his first impeachment trial in 2019. She has since taken on roles in lobbying and conservative advocacy, currently leading the legal division at the America First Policy Institute.
Bondi’s nomination signals a continued shift in the Department of Justice’s focus under Trump’s leadership, prioritizing “law and order” policies aligned with his broader “America First” agenda. Her confirmation is expected to be closely watched in the coming weeks.
