President Trump Fires Attorney General Pam Bondi

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced the dismissal Thursday of Attorney General Pam Bondi, praising her performance even as he removed her from the post.

Trump confirmed Thursday that Bondi had been fired a day earlier, calling her “a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend” in a post on Truth Social and saying she would transition to an unspecified role in the private sector.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general, Trump said, describing him as a “talented and respected legal mind.”

Two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel decisions, said Bondi met with Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday evening ahead of his national address on the war in Iran. She departed Washington on Thursday morning for Florida, where she is scheduled to participate in an NFL-affiliated child safety initiative, according to a person familiar with her plans.

The White House is considering Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, as a potential replacement, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Trump met with Zeldin earlier this week, and while he is seen as a leading contender, the decision is not final and could change.

The move follows reports that Trump had grown increasingly dissatisfied with Bondi’s performance. Her tenure at the Justice Department drew scrutiny, particularly over her handling of records related to financier Jeffrey Epstein. Bondi had said early in her tenure that the files were under review, but the limited release of new information over the following months prompted criticism from some lawmakers and members of the public.

Bondi’s dismissal came the same day she accompanied Trump to the Supreme Court for oral arguments in a closely watched case involving birthright citizenship.

Zeldin, meanwhile, is scheduled to appear Thursday at an event with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. focused on addressing rising levels of microplastics in drinking water.

No timeline has been announced for naming a permanent replacement.