US President Donald Trump has dismissed Attorney General Pam Bondi and appointed her deputy Todd Blanche as acting Attorney General, amid reports of growing presidential frustration with the Justice Department.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, appointing her deputy Todd Blanche to lead the Justice Department in an acting capacity. The dismissal was announced via social media, with Trump praising Bondi as a “great American patriot and a loyal friend” while commending her work in combating crime.
Bondi, for her part, said she was honoured to have led what she described as the President’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more stable. Her departure, however, comes amid widely reported tensions between the White House and the Justice Department over its performance under her leadership.
Todd Blanche, who served as Bondi’s deputy, will now step in as acting Attorney General, taking the helm of one of the most powerful law enforcement agencies in the United States at a politically charged moment.
The reshuffle marks one of the more significant cabinet-level changes of Trump’s current term, reflecting the President’s willingness to move quickly when dissatisfied with the performance of senior officials. The Justice Department oversees federal law enforcement, including the FBI, and plays a central role in shaping the administration’s legal and criminal justice agenda.
No official reason was given for the dismissal beyond the social media tribute, though reports of Trump’s frustration with the department’s direction had been circulating in Washington for some time.
The appointment of Blanche is expected to be closely watched by legal and political observers, as the administration signals what direction it intends to take the Justice Department under new leadership.
