Trump likely to fire Pam Bondi over her handling of the Justice Department: Report

Calls for Pam Bondi’s resignation grew after the Justice Department’s Epstein files release led Republicans to subpoena her over redactions
Reports say Donald Trump may remove Pam Bondi over DOJ concerns and is considering Lee Zeldin as a replacement (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Reports say Donald Trump may remove Pam Bondi over DOJ concerns and is considering Lee Zeldin as a replacement (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating the possibility of freeing Attorney General Pam Bondi from her duties amid growing dissatisfaction with her handling of the Justice Department.

Trump has also floated a name that could be her possible replacement. If Bondi is ultimately fired, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin would take her position in the Justice Department, people familiar with the conversations the president had on the topic told the New York Times.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 1: U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledges those in attendance after speaking from the Cross Hall of the White House on April 1, 2026 in Washington, DC. Trump used the prime-time address to update the nation on the war in Iran. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)
Donald Trump used the prime-time address to update the nation on the war in Iran (Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)

Pam Bondi’s MAGA standing weakens amid Trump frustration

Pam Bondi’s place in the MAGA movement has, in recent months, reportedly suffered several setbacks, as the president has complained about her ineffectiveness in pursuing his political enemies.

In October last year, writing a long post on Truth Social, Trump publicly pressured Bondi to bring criminal charges against his political enemies, saying, “We can’t delay any longer.”

In the same post, Trump urged Bondi to charge people like Adam Schiff (D-CA) and former FBI Director James Comey, saying, “They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done.”

The handling of the Epstein files apparently worked as the final nail in the coffin for her weakening standing in Trump’s view.

DOJ's Attorney General Pam Bondi criticizes MPD (Getty Images)
Pam Bondi’s Epstein file claims and sharing binders with MAGA influencers caused backlash and caught the White House off guard (Getty Images)

From her claim that the Epstein files were “sitting on her desk” to distributing binders of the documents to MAGA influencers, Bondi’s actions during the scandal caused problems. Her decision to share documents with influencers also caught the White House completely off guard.

Susie Wiles calls out Pam Bondi over Epstein files claim

In an interview with Vanity Fair last year, Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles criticized Bondi for both incidents. 

Wiles mocked those binders as “full of nothingness,” as they contained no real or useful information.

Wiles further said, " files sure as hell weren’t on her desk,” suggesting that Bondi’s claim of having the files was false.

Calls grow for Pam Bondi resignation over Epstein files

The demand for Bondi’s resignation grew with the release of Epstein files by the Justice Department. The release of heavily redacted confidential files prompted the Republican-led House Oversight Committee to vote to subpoena Bondi over their release.

Another hit to Bondi’s position came from criticism by Republicans after her marathon House Judiciary Committee hearing, where she claimed that Democrats were focusing on Epstein to avoid talking about how “the Dow right now is over 50,000.”

U.S. President Donald Trump (R) walks with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi (L) during a visit to the Justice Department March 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. As he has used the department to punish enemies, Trump is expected to deliver what the White House calls a law-and-order speech and outline steps he will take to counter “weaponization” of the department. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump walks with Attorney General Pam Bondi (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Although there is speculation that Trump wants to remove Bondi, he appeared at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 1, with her by his side and has continued to praise her in public.

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