Trump had also reportedly grown frustrated that Bondi was not moving quickly enough to prosecute critics and adversaries who he wanted to face criminal charges.
Attorney General Pam Bondi leaving after the end of President Donald Trump's remarks to reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/ File)
US President Donald Trump on Thursday removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post amid mounting frustration with her performance, including the handling of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein related files.
Bondi, who was among the loyalists in the Trump administration and changed the Justice Department’s culture of independence from White House, oversaw the large scale firings of employees but the US president reportedly grew frustrated with her for not moving swiftly to prosecute critics, who Trump wanted to face criminal charges.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 2, 2026
Confirming the development, Trump in a Truth Social post praised Bondi as a “great American patriot and a loyal friend” and said she will move to a job in the private sector. The US president added that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer, will lead the Justice Department and be the acting Attorney General.
“Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year. Pam did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in Crime across our Country, with Murders plummeting to their lowest level since 1900. We love Pam,” Trump wrote.
The development comes after Bondi became the target of several Conservatives over the Justice Department’s handling of files related to Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation. The top US law enforcement official was accused of covering up or mismanaging the release of records in Justice Department’s investigation into deceased sex offender Epstein, Reuters reported.
Bondi, however, defended the release of Epstein files and had said the Trump administration had been more transparent on the issue than previous presidents.
Criticising Attorney General Bondi, Maryland’s Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin had said, “You’ve turned the People’s Department of Justice into Trump’s instrument of revenge.”
Bondi is the second Trump administration loyalist to have been fired in a month. The US president removed Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 5 following criticism of her management of the agency and Trump’s immigration agenda.
The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.
A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.
All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.
Core Team
The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:
Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.
Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.
Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More
