When it comes to staffing an administration, there are thousands of positions to fill. Some matter more than others. However, one appointment stands above the rest: the attorney general of the United States. This is the person who stands at the intersection of law, politics and justice, and someone who can either make a president’s agenda possible or derail it.
President Trump knew the importance of his attorney general pick all too well. In his first term, his choices led to disasters. Jeff Sessions began with promise but quickly folded under pressure, recusing himself and abandoning his duty when the Russia hoax was unleashed. That opened the door for years of baseless investigations designed to cripple Trump’s presidency.
Bill Barr proved no better. While he carried himself with an air of establishment credibility, Barr consistently undermined the president and wasted time and resources on fruitless investigations like the Robert Mueller probe, a multimillion-dollar exercise in political theater that found nothing.
Had Trump been backed by an attorney general who shared his vision and fought for it, the country would have seen even more progress during those years. The lesson he learned was clear: he could not afford to get this appointment wrong a second time.
That’s why the selection of Pam Bondi was the right move. Bondi is not just another bureaucrat with a law degree; she’s a fighter, an ally, and someone who understands that the attorney general’s role is to uphold justice while also advancing the will of the people.
Unlike her predecessors, Bondi isn’t recusing herself or outsourcing responsibility to career prosecutors. She’s cleaning out political operatives from the Department of Justice, ensuring that the swamp creatures who worked harder to undermine Trump than to serve America are no longer able to do damage.
Her leadership style also deserves recognition. Reports of disagreements with figures like Dan Bongino or Kash Patel shouldn’t be seen as dysfunctional. In fact, they show that she’s willing to foster healthy debate inside the department. Strong leaders don’t surround themselves with yes-men. Thoughtful leaders welcome opposing views, weigh options and make tough calls. Trump has always thrived on competition and debate, and it is evident that Bondi is applying that same principle at Justice.
Of course, critics have raised questions about her handling of high-profile issues, such as the Epstein files. Even some in the MAGA movement are frustrated that elite criminals appear to get special treatment. However, an honest and realistic consideration of this matter will reflect that much of the “evidence” people demand involves sensitive international dimensions. Bondi has hinted at the limitations of what the Justice Department controls (some of the information rightly belongs under the purview of the State Department).
If anything were damaging to Trump hidden in those files, Democrats would have already weaponized it. That they haven’t speaks volumes.
What matters most is that Bondi is focused on the core mission of prosecuting crime, protecting victims, and removing immigrant gangs from our streets. She is working hand-in-glove with the White House, ensuring that the executive branch and the Department of Justice are aligned. That is a monumental improvement over the first Trump term, when Justice often felt like an adversary rather than a partner.
During the first Trump administration, the Justice Department seemed more like a rogue agency, one that acted independently of the president, sometimes even against him. Bondi is changing that dynamic. She understands that the attorney general is not a political saboteur but a constitutional officer meant to help carry out the president’s vision for law and order.
Trump made many strong personnel decisions this term. However, by naming Bondi as attorney general, he got one of the most critical jobs absolutely right. The difference between her tenure and those of Sessions and Barr is already evident. Bondi is on the side of the president, on the side of the people, and on the side of justice. That is precisely what America needs.
