FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump looks on in the Oval Office, on the day he signs executive orders, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. March 6, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
Social media critics expressed outrage Thursday night and accused a lawyer from a powerful law firm of "capitulating" to President Donald Trump.
Trump on Thursday withdrew an executive order that rescinded security clearances from the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. The move came after Trump met law firm chairman Brad Karp, and they came to an agreement, with Paul, Weiss pledging $40 million worth of pro bono legal services during Trump's presidency, focusing on fighting antisemitism and helping veterans. The firm also agreed to review its hiring practices and eliminate any diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, policies.
Additionally, the firm acknowledged the alleged misconduct of a former partner who investigated Trump while working for the Manhattan District Attorney's office.
ALSO READ: ‘I miss lynch mobs’: The secretary of retribution's followers are getting impatient
The news led to significant backlash from critics, some of whom had held up Paul, Weiss as an example of how to fight Trump.
"Frankly, this is shameful on the part of Paul, Weiss. The executive orders targeting law firms are an existential threat to the legal industry. Capitulation is not the answer," rebuked Anna Bower, senior editor of Lawfare.
Conservative attorney George Conway replied, "'Shameful' is too kind a word. But you’re right, this kind of moral cowardice will not pay off. Especially for people who care to look at themselves in the mirror every morning."
Conway said he sent a text message to the chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell, who is representing Trump in his criminal appeal and "who I suspect helped broker the Paul Weiss deal."
"Impressive, Bob. You got Brad Karp to disgrace himself more than you disgraced yourself!" the message read.
Josh Marshall wrote on Bluesky: "Bunch of high profile D lawyers are at Paul Weiss. They have a choice to make, I'd say."
National security attorney Mark Zaid added, "I would be embarrassed if I was lawyer at #PaulWeiss. To compromise principles in this way is not why I became a lawyer. Has nothing to do w/repping Trumpers or their causes. I do that all the time. Bc that's my job. Not bc I was bullied or intimidated."
"Among others, Paul Weiss represents Amazon and Jeff Bezos and let's just say I'm not surprised at all..." noted government litigator Sean Satori.
Jen Rubin, editor-in-chief of The Contrarian and an MSNBC contributor, wrote to her followers, "Serious question: Why would ANY graduating law student go work at Paul Weiss? If they capitulate to Trump on something like this what else would they do?"
"Paul Weiss is a coward and Donald Trump just won in a terrifying way," chided former Republican Jack Hopkins, host of the eponymous podcast.
"Disgraceful capitulation to fascist intimidation by the Paul Weiss law firm," added Mark Jacob, former metro editor at The Chicago Tribune and Sunday editor at the Sun-Times.