Donald Trump Gives Pam Bondi Verdict Amid Reports of Clash With FBI
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President Donald Trump broke his silence one day after reports of a clash between U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino about the release of a memo regarding Jeffrey Epstein, which prompted conservatives on social media to call for the president to fire her.
In a lengthy Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump stressed that Bondi is "doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" and that he has a "PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD."
Why It Matters
Epstein, the financier and sex offender who died in prison six years ago, socialized with some of the world's most powerful people. While his death was ruled a suicide, conspiracy theories persist that he was instead killed due to his purported "client list," which many have speculated to contain the names of politicians including Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Britain's Prince Andrew.
Billionaire Elon Musk last month said the government had not released records related to the case because Trump "is in the Epstein files." While the president has dismissed Musk's claim, it has sparked further interest in the government's records.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump suggested he would release files related to Epstein, with a first batch publicized in February by Bondi. However, earlier this week, Trump and Bondi said they found "no incriminating 'client list'" related to Epstein, triggering major backlash among Democrats and the president's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) supporters.
Earlier this week, NewsNation reported that Bongino and FBI Director Kash Patel wanted to unseal evidence months ago and release "every single piece of evidence they could, while protecting victims." Bongino has denied the allegation, but on Friday CNN reported that he was considering quitting his post over the dispute.
What To Know
Tensions within the Trump administration escalated after a heated exchange earlier in the week between Bongino and Bondi regarding management of the Epstein case, CNN's Kaitlan Collins reported Friday. Multiple sources told the outlet that Bongino did not turn up to work on Friday, increasing speculation that he is eyeing an exit.
Far-right political activist Laura Loomer stirred up conservatives on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday after news broke that Bongino's reported decision to stay or leave was contingent on whether Bondi quit as attorney general.
Loomer wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Bongino may quit unless Bondi left, and that "the MAGA base would like to see Trump FIRE Blondi [sic]. She is a massive liability to this otherwise great administration."
Other conservatives, including Charlie Kirk, Megyn Kelly, and former Representative George Santos, called for Trump to fire Bondi and back Bongino.
However, on Saturday, Trump made clear that he backed his attorney general, writing, "LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE'S GREAT!"
"What's going on with my 'boys' and, in some cases, 'gals?'" Trump asked. "They're all going after Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is doing a FANTASTIC JOB! We're on one Team, MAGA, and I don't like what's happening. We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein. For years, it's Epstein, over and over again."
Trump then criticized coverage of the Epstein files, which he wrote were created by "Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration, who conned the World with the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, 51 'Intelligence' Agents, 'THE LAPTOP FROM HELL,' and more."
He continued: "No matter how much success we have had, securing the Border, deporting Criminals, fixing the Economy, Energy Dominance, a Safer World where Iran will not have Nuclear Weapons, it's never enough for some people. We are about to achieve more in 6 months than any other Administration has achieved in over 100 years, and we have so much more to do."
Later in the post, Trump wrote that "Kash Patel, and the FBI, must be focused on investigating Voter Fraud, Political Corruption, ActBlue, The Rigged and Stolen Election of 2020, and arresting Thugs and Criminals, instead of spending month after month looking at nothing but the same old, Radical Left inspired Documents on Jeffrey Epstein."
Trump then said he had tasked Bondi with looking into the 2020 and 2024 elections, once again saying the former had been "rigged and stolen," before touting the U.S. is now the "HOTTEST" country "anywhere in the world."
"Let's keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about," he concluded.
President Donald Trump participates in a round table event at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding on July 11 in Kerrville, Texas.
President Donald Trump participates in a round table event at the Hill Country Youth Event Center to discuss last week's flash flooding on July 11 in Kerrville, Texas.What People Are Saying
FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X on Saturday afternoon: "The conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States @realDonaldTrump — and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me."
Far-right political activist Laura Loomer on Saturday wrote on X: "President Trump says he thinks Blondi [sic] is 'doing a Fantastic job' as AG in a post he posted on Truth Social today...."
Fox News host Mark Levin wrote on X: "President Trump has had enough of the Epsteinian kooks. Here's his just released statement."
Charlie Kirk, conservative founder and president of Turning Point USA, wrote on X: "President Trump on the Epstein Files, says he supports Pam Bondi at AG, the files are untrustworthy and created by Comey and Brennan. He wants his Justice Department focused on the voter fraud, the rigged election, ActBlue, and arresting thugs and criminals."
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