Tampa native Pam Bondi out as attorney general, mixed reactions across the state

TAMPA, Fla. - Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is out as the nation’s top law enforcement officer, fired Thursday by President Donald Trump after a turbulent tenure marked by controversy and internal frustration.

What we know:

In a statement posted to X, Bondi called it "the honor of a lifetime" to serve, thanking the president for his trust and saying she will continue supporting his administration even as she prepares to transition to a private sector role.

The White House confirmed Bondi’s removal, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stepping in as acting attorney general.

What they're saying:

Reaction across Florida is sharply divided.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott, a longtime ally, says he was disappointed and surprised she was fired. Scott called Bondi a good friend. She was attorney general when he was governor and said he values her legal mind and tenacity.

"I like Pam being there. I knew she was going to focus and do a good job," Scott said.

Scott pointed to her role in national crime reduction efforts.

"What she was able to accomplish up there with being part of securing the border or stopping all the fentanyl from coming in, getting Maduro arrested. All these things that actually reduced the crime rate in this country, and I think the biggest thing was the murder rate," Scott said.

The other side:

On the other side of the aisle, Florida State Representative Michele Rayner said it was time for Bondi to leave.

"She was always known for being one that was going to, you know, prosecute people who have harmed women, who have harm children. And while we may not have ideologically agreed, that was something that I always respected her for. So, to see how far she has fallen is really disappointing. And you hear that from both sides of the aisle," Rayner said.

What we don't know:

While the president publicly praised Bondi as a "loyal friend," multiple reports indicate growing dissatisfaction behind the scenes.

It’s unclear why she was fired.

What they're saying:

Political analysts say the move mirrors a pattern seen during Trump’s first term when there was a lot of movement in his cabinet.

Aubrey Jewett, a UCF political science professor, said for the first year things were relatively stable, but now the firings have started.

"It looks like when he’s getting dissatisfied, they’re hitting the door. And it doesn’t seem a matter of loyalty," Jewett said.

Dig deeper:

Jewett said there seem to be two main points of Trump's dissatisfaction with Bondi’s performance.

"The Epstein Files has just sort of hung over the Trump administration like a London Fog, right? I mean, it just won't go away. I think the Epstein files was probably the biggest thing that President Trump was upset about. And then probably the other thing that seems to come up quite often is that he was frustrated with her inability to go after some of his political enemies, or at least to go them effectively," Jewett said.

The question is whether someone else would have more success in those areas.

"I think somebody could probably do better on the Epstein files. In the sense that, truly, if you just release them all, which is what was promised to the American public and what President Trump himself promised," Jewett said. "But in terms of going after his enemies, that remains to be seen if there is a just legal way to do that, because in some of these cases, it really does just seem like retribution. If President Trump is bringing somebody in because he expects them to be able to do a lot better on some of these cases, then he's probably gonna be doomed to disappointment through the rest of his term."

What's next:

Bondi says she’s "thrilled" about her next move in the private sector and will spend the coming weeks transitioning the role to Blanche.

Meanwhile, Scott is hoping she’ll return to her former role.

"It’d be great if she was the attorney general again," Scott said.

But Rayner pushed back on that idea:

"I most certainly hope that there is no political future for her here in Florida," Rayner said.

For now, a permanent replacement has yet to be named while Blanche serves as acting attorney general.

Bondi issued the following statement:

"Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of attorney general to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this administration. Leading President Trump’s historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, and easily the most consequential first year of the Department of Justice in American history. Since February 2025, we have secured the lowest murder rate in 125 years, secured first-ever terrorism convictions against members of Antifa, shattered domestic and transnational gangs across the country, taken custody of more than 90 key cartel figures, and won 24 favorable rulings at the Supreme Court. I remain eternally grateful for the trust that President Trump placed in me to ‘Make America Safe Again.’"

FloridaPolitics