David Axelrod, a seasoned Democratic strategist, expressed concern over President-elect Trump’s selection of Pam Bondi for attorney general, claiming that her loyalty would be to Trump above the Constitution’s mandates.
Axelrod explained on CNN that Bondi’s appointment would serve Trump’s desire for a Justice Department controlled by political interests, rather than the impartiality expected of the office. “He wants someone responsive to him first, not the duties of the attorney general or the Constitution,” he remarked during an interview on Thursday.
The appointment of Bondi fuels discussions about Trump’s influence over the Justice Department’s mission
According to Axelrod, Trump seeks to exercise political control over the Justice Department, and Bondi appears fully prepared to fulfill that role, serving as a trusted political ally rather than an independent legal authority.
Axelrod’s critique came shortly after Trump announced Bondi, the former Florida attorney general, as his pick to lead the DOJ. Axelrod voiced concerns about the reaction of the broader public and Senate, stating that Bondi’s nomination presents a significant challenge for those who value the Justice Department’s integrity.
Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration after public scrutiny over his qualifications and personal scandals. Axelrod praised the move, stating that Gaetz’s nomination was doomed from the start, describing it as a “horrific choice.”
Bondi, who served as Florida’s top prosecutor from 2011 to 2019, has also been a member of Trump’s legal team during his first impeachment. In his announcement, Trump praised her as a fighter who would bring focus back to the DOJ’s core mission: crime fighting and ensuring public safety.
With Gaetz now out of the picture, attention has turned to Trump’s other polarizing appointments, including Pete Hegseth for Pentagon chief, Tulsi Gabbard for national intelligence director, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services.
