FILE PHOTO: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi attends a Mexican Border Defense Medal presentation in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 15, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
Attorney General Pam Bondi pleaded with Donald Trump to keep her job during a tense White House confrontation shortly before the president publicly announced her firing Thursday, a senior administration source reportedly told the Daily Mail.
Trump informed Bondi of his decision to sack her just before his prime-time address to the nation about the war in Iran. And she did not go quietly, according to the report.
"She was unhappy and tried to change his mind," the source said.
Trump held firm, telling her the announcement would be made shortly. The news was accelerated after rampant media speculation swirled overnight about her fate.
Bondi's ouster marks the second cabinet firing in less than a month, following the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Trump's decision reportedly stemmed in part from his belief that Bondi tipped off Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell about FBI efforts to release documents related to Swalwell's alleged ties to a Chinese spy.
Bondi's tenure was marred by the botched handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, with the administration facing fierce backlash over transparency.
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will serve as acting attorney general while Trump finds a permanent replacement. Reports have floated EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and even Ron DeSantis as potential nominees.