Justice Department Leadership

Fox News reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with President Donald Trump in the hours after Pam Bondi was fired on April 1, 2026, to personally pitch himself for the attorney general job on a permanent basis. According to two unnamed sources, senior White House officials encouraged Blanche to make his case while other names, including EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, briefly circulated as possible contenders. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump and Blanche spoke that Thursday, and a DOJ spokesperson said Blanche received a call from the president after leaving a podcast taping following news of Bondi's ouster. A former DOJ prosecutor quoted in the piece argues Trump may avoid a bruising Senate confirmation by keeping Blanche — described as an 'ultimate loyalist' and former personal attorney to Trump — in the acting role at least through the midterms, while Trump was quoted as telling Blanche, 'Here's your audition.' The jockeying underscores how Trump is weighing loyalty, confirmation risks and his desire for a hard-charging Justice Department as he pursues his 'retribution' agenda and navigates multiple legal and political fights before November.