President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Pam Bondi, the ex-Florida attorney general, as the nation’s top law enforcement officer just hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his candidacy.
Gaetz faced intense opposition from Senate Republicans due to allegations of sexual misconduct, which derailed his chances of securing the position.
Bondy, a 59-year-old American lawyer, is also a well-known supporter of Israel, and she has stated this both in the current war and under the previous Trump administration.
The Jerusalem Post quoted Bondi as saying in an interview referring to the anti-Semitic chaos demonstrations at universities in the United States: "The students who are protesting against our Jewish friends and supporting Hamas – they should be expelled from our country, they are ignorant children," Bondi said.
The decision to tap Bondi underscores Trump’s consistent preference for appointing loyalists to key roles, especially within the Justice Department. Bondi has a history of staunchly defending Trump in the media and aligns closely with his political vision.
Sources familiar with the decision revealed that Bondi quickly emerged as Trump’s favored choice following Gaetz’s withdrawal. Despite not actively seeking the role, her unwavering support for Trump and her high-profile television appearances positioned her as an appealing replacement.
* Kikar Hashabbat contributed to this article.