Who will replace Pam Bondi as Attorney General? Indian-origin Harmeet Dhillon among top names amid Epstein backlash
Following this, Bondi faced severe criticism, with some MAGA loyalists even demanding her resignation regarding her handling of the Epstein case. Amid the speculations over Bondi's exit, several individuals have been considered as potential candidates for the position of Attorney General.
Laura Loomer, MAGA loyalist, claimed on X that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) is a leading contender.
In a post on the social media platform X, Loomer wrote,'If Blondi is fired, I'm told @Ron DeSantis has been considered/floated for the role of Attorney General by some over the last few months."
She further wrote, 'There's also a private push behind the scenes by some GOP donors who want to see Ken Paxton as AG, but he has US Senate aspirations. However, discussions have been taking place for several months about who could be Blondi's replacement if she ever was fired or resigned. She has not done a good job as AG and everyone knows it."
Meanwhile, Megyn Kelly suggested Jeanine Pirro and Harmeet Dhillon as suitable candidates at Friday's Turning Point UK summit.
"Jeanine Pirro is totally confirmable. She will be great," Kelly said at Friday's Turning Point USA summit. 'Harmeet Dhillon could also do it.'
Former Congressman George Santos suggested Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) as a possible contender for Attorney General.
In a post on X, Santos wrote,'Matt Gaetz is MIA at Turning Points USA tonight! Something is in motion!'
However, when a social media user noted that the role Attorney General needs confirmation of the Senate, Santos replied, 'Well he can serve 120 days as interim AG and that's enough to clear this mess up no?'
(With inputs from agencies)
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How Donald Trump's weapon deal with Ukraine is inviting Maga ire
US President Donald Trump's decision to send weapons to Ukraine to help its defence against Russia has some in the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement irate. Here's what some leading figures in Maga land including Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Steve Bannon are saying and the potential fallout read more US President Donald Trump has taken a harsher line on Vladimir Putin recently. Reuters File Since the moment he announced he was running for president, Donald Trump's base has had unshakable faith in him. They stayed with him through the Access Hollywood tape when it looked like his campaign was at an end. They remained loyal after he was defeated by Joe Biden in the 2020 election and during the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol. Trump himself had boasted about his followers' loyalty, saying he could probably get away with shooting someone on 5th Avenue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, seven months into his second term, the Make America Great Again (Maga) movement seems to be growing more upset with Trump. Why is this happening? Because of the Ukraine war, which Trump vowed to end 'within 24 hours' of taking office. But it's not so much as the war continuing itself. More specifically, it's about Washington sending weapons to Kyiv to defend itself. But what happened? What is Maga world saying? Let's take a closer look: What happened? Trump returned to the Oval Office as the 'anti-war candidate'. He claimed that Kamala Harris getting the top job would make World War III an inevitability. He vowed to bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine quickly and painlessly. He had criticised the US' proclivity to get into 'forever wars' or endless wars. He repeatedly vowed that he was going to 'stop wars' instead of starting them. As a candidate during the previous elections, he had also taken shots at the 'warmongers and America-last' globalists including his rivals Nikki Haley in 2024 and Jeb Bush in 2016. 'Let's kill people all over the place and let's make a lot of money for those people that make the messes', Trump said of Haley in January 2024. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We should have never been in Iraq,' Trump said in February 2016. 'They lied. They said there were weapons of mass destruction. There were none and they knew that there were none.' However, his actions as president during his 2nd term have been nearly diametrically opposed to what he said on the campaign trail. Not only has Trump supported Israel's war in Gaza, he has also conducted airstrikes on the Houthis. Many in his Maga base, whose patience and love for Israel runs deep, have backed him up on this. Some even supported Trump bombing Iran's nuclear facilities. A B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, takes off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on April 14, 2023. (Representative Photo, Credit: US Air Force) However, it looks like Trump's decision to send weapons to Ukraine to help in its war with Russia may be one war too many for the Maga faithful. Trump on Monday announced that the United States would be sending weapons to Ukraine via Nato. Trump, during a meeting with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, announced that the organisation would pay for the weapons. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'We've made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they're going to be paying for them', Trump said. He also warned Russia to end the war with Ukraine in 50 days. Trump on Sunday had said the US would send Ukraine 'various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment'. 'We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,' Trump added. While Trump didn't specify the number of Patriot batteries to be sent he said 'they're going to have some because they do need protection'. Trump has long since called for other nations in Nato to increase their defence spending. Many in the orthodox wing of the Republican Party, known as the hawks, have erupted with joy. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a huge Trump supporter, said it was a turning point'. 'The game, regarding [Vladimir] Putin's invasion of Russia, is about to change', Graham added. This decision came a week after the Pentagon paused the flow of weapons to Ukraine. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This decision, seemingly made by the deputy defence secretary and signed off by his boss Pete Hegseth, was initially celebrated by some in the Maga camp. Trump in recent weeks has taken a harsher line on Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he previously praised. These recent events have cast a pall over Maga world, many of whom have taken a stance that is just short of being pro-Russia. What is Maga world saying? Some in Maga world are furious with Trump's decision. Republican Congresswomen Marjorie Taylor Greene on social media slammed 'backdoor deals through Nato'. Greene said the development was in stark contrast to what she promised voters on the campaign trail. 'It's not just Ukraine; it's all foreign wars in general and a lot of foreign aid,' she said. 'This is what we campaigned on. This is what I promised also to my district. This is what everybody voted for. And I believe we have to maintain the course.' 'Without a shadow of a doubt, our tax dollars are being used', she added. 'I said it on every rally stage: no more money to Ukraine. We want peace. We just want peace for those people,' she said. 'And guess what? People haven't changed'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Surface-to-air missile launchers of the Patriot (Wisla) system newly added into the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) at an army base in Sochaczew, Poland. File image/Reuters Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, who many during the first term referred to as 'Trump's brain', also slammed the decision. Bannon on his podcast called the Ukraine conflict a "European war". 'Ukraine is getting so dangerous", Bannon said. 'It's a European war. Let Europe deal with it'. 'They have the resources. They have the manpower'. 'We're about to arm people we have literally no control over', Bannon added. 'This is old-fashioned, grinding war in the bloodlands of Europe - and we're being dragged into it'. A former Trump campaign official said Europe buying the weapons somewhat mitigates the anger from the Maga base. 'But we still hate it,' the official told Politico. 'This is not our war, and escalation isn't in America's interest'. The larger question is if this Ukraine decision will cause Trump's base to turn on him in the long run. Ukraine unpopular with Republicans Data show that Ukraine isn't very popular with Republicans. Just 59 per cent of Republicans think the US is helping Ukraine 'too much,' as per a March poll. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That number was at 56 per cent in another poll. Just 1 in 10 Republicans want the US more involved in the conflict. There are also little concerns about Russia within the party. Rescue workers extinguish a fire of a house destroyed by a Russian strike in Markhalivka village, Kyiv region, Ukraine. AP file/Representative image Only 25 per cent of Republican-leaning Americans said they are 'extremely' or 'very' concerned about Russia defeating Ukraine in a March poll. Only 29 per cent said they were concerned that Russia would invade other nations. A mere 40 per cent think Russia is the 'enemy'. A Reuters poll also showed 58% of Republicans tended to agree with the statement 'the problems of Ukraine are none of our business, and we should not interfere.' A majority of Republicans (63-34) also oppose sending weapons and money to Ukraine. Remember, the base right now is already irate at Trump over his handling of the files related to the Jeffrey Epstein allegations. While Trump has called on his supporters to 'move on' from the Epstein saga, many Maga supporters show no signs of being inclined to do so. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, history shows that the Maga faithful have always trailed in the direction that Trump led them in. While the idea of conducting strikes on Iran initially repulsed some on the right, eight in 10 Republicans afterwards backed up their Commander-in-Chief. Since so many in Maga land have stuck with Trump through thick and thin, it is unlikely that Ukraine will be the final straw. With inputs from agencies
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump's Epstein dilemma: When the conspiracist-in-chief can't kill the conspiracy
YouTuber Coffeezilla has sparked fresh debate after pointing out a missing minute in newly released Epstein jail footage. The DOJ says the case is closed, but online users remain skeptical as conspiracy theories surge again. For a president who has long thrived in conspiracy, chaos and disinformation, the Jeffrey Epstein case has become an uncharacteristic vulnerability. Donald Trump , a master manipulator of narrative and outrage, now finds himself at the mercy of the very conspiratorial forces he once weaponized. And this time, they're not buying what he's selling. As CNN reported Monday, Trump is 'increasingly frustrated' by a controversy that refuses to go away. The justice department's recent memo closing the Epstein case - denying the existence of a client list or evidence of murder - was intended to put an end to the speculation. Instead, it has inflamed it. 'This was a conspiracy theory that Donald Trump, Pam Bondi and these MAGA extremists have been fanning the flames of for the last several years,' House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters Monday, 'and now the chickens are coming home to roost.' The drama has pitted the president against the online influencers and true believers who form the MAGA movement's ideological core. It's a rare moment where Trump is no longer seen as the avenging outsider taking on the deep state - but as part of the cover-up. 'People are really upset at the outright dismissal of it,' Natalie Winters, a correspondent for Steve Bannon's 'War Room' podcast, told The New York Times. 'I have never seen such sustained wavering.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Что происходит при сжигании лаврового листа? Undo A fracturing movement From Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene warning of 'significant' fallout, to Elon Musk calling Epstein Trump's 'Achilles' heel,' the backlash has broken into the open. And while Trump still commands loyalty in public from party leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senators Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn, cracks are showing beneath the surface. MAGA influencers are in revolt. Attorney general Pam Bondi, once cheered for promising to 'review' Epstein's alleged client list, is now facing demands for her resignation. Bondi's prior remarks - including on Fox News in February - are circulating online as evidence of betrayal. "Don't sit there and tell me there's nothing when you told me there was something,' Jack Posobiec said Monday on 'War Room.' Even Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is treading cautiously. 'I do think that there needs to be more transparency on this,' she said on Benny Johnson's podcast. She stopped short of condemning the administration but made clear that the calls for disclosure are not going away. The deep state, reversed Trump has spent years convincing his followers that America is run by hidden elites, and that only he could bring them to justice. The Epstein conspiracy - implicating shadowy networks, intelligence agencies, and sex trafficking of minors - became a foundational myth in MAGA lore. As the Atlantic's Michelle Goldberg observed, Epstein is not just a case. He's a symbol: 'The fantasy of Trump as a warrior against sex trafficking [is] a way for his followers to manage their cognitive dissonance about his obvious personal degeneracy.' The MAGA faithful were promised that returning Trump to office would blow the lid off Epstein's secrets. Instead, they got a DOJ memo and a president insisting, 'nobody cares about Epstein.' 'He's massively misreading his base on this one,' conservative commentator Liz Wheeler wrote on X. 'It could cost him the midterms.' The MAGA identity crisis Steve Bannon warned at the Turning Point USA conference that if just 10% of the base sits out the 2026 midterms, Republicans could lose 40 House seats. A narrative collapse like this one could be the tipping point. 'This gets to the heart of who is in control of the country,' said Winters. 'If you're not exposing it, either you're a liar, or you're ineffective, or you're compromised.' Trump's attempt to pivot - now blaming the Epstein controversy on Obama, Hillary Clinton, and a 'Radical Left' conspiracy to discredit him - is being met with rare disbelief from his base. 'It's bizarre,' said Winters. 'I just don't know.' How can people be expected to have faith in Trump if he won't release the Epstein files? Elon Musk on X The real-world consequences The Epstein fallout isn't just a MAGA psychodrama. It has implications for national governance and the rule of law. As the New York Times' Jess Bidgood noted, the justice department, tasked with investigating real crimes and protecting civil liberties, now finds itself crippled by infighting and distrust. 'Vitriol ricocheting through the management suite risks detracting from the core missions of the DOJ and the FBI,' CNN reported. The spectacle of a president turning on his own conspiracy-driven followers while defending a Justice Department accused of suppressing evidence has further eroded trust in government institutions. This, too, is a legacy of Trumpism: a movement that undermines belief in shared facts, then loses control when its own alternate realities break down. What comes next? Trump may yet ride this out. His command over the GOP remains formidable. But the Epstein crisis marks a shift. His power to bend the narrative may be waning, not because the media or Democrats finally broke through - but because his own supporters feel betrayed. And that is the most dangerous kind of disillusionment for a populist: not from without, but from within. As Axios summed it, 'Even MAGA's most loyal foot soldiers are struggling to explain how top Trump officials could close the Epstein case after promising - for years - that it would expose shadowy global elites.' That's the real scandal now: not Epstein, but the broken promise that he would be the key to everything.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Epstein files stay sealed — Republicans block move to force Trump admin to reveal details
An effort to open the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein investigation files to the public was blocked on Monday after Republican members of Congress rejected an amendment that would have required the Trump administration to release the sealed documents, as per a report. Epstein File Release Blocked by House Republicans The amendment proposed by California Congressman Ro Khanna was a Democratic amendment that would have allowed Congress to vote on whether the files should be made public or not, as reported by Newsweek. However, the GOP members of the House Rules Committee voted it down 5 to 7 on Monday evening, against the amendment, as per the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Are Unstoppable: The Most Beautiful and Talented Female Athletes ALSO READ: Trump's tariff threat could trigger recession as August 1 deadline looms, and he might not blink this time What the Amendment Aimed to Do Khanna's amendment was in effect a procedural measure that was tacked on to the GENIUS Act, which is related to digital assets like cryptocurrency, and if the amendment were to get passed, it would have forced Attorney General Pam Bondi to publish the Epstein documents on a "publicly accessible website," as reported by Newsweek. Live Events The Democratic Congressman wrote on social media X, saying, "Rules voted 5-7 to block the full House from voting on my amendment to have a FULL release of the Epstein file. People are fed up. They are fed up. Thanks Rep. Ralph Norman. Need to put the American people before party!," as quoted in the report. ALSO READ: Canada's job crisis? Student unemployment skyrockets to 14.2% — is a recession here already? Why the Epstein Files Still Matter The Epstein case has gained a lot of attention in US politics, and the issue has driven conspiracy theories and mistrust in various federal institutions in the last few years, according to Newsweek. The controversy came to the spotlight again after the Justice Department's recent memo said that there was no evidence of a client list or blackmail materials, which contradicted previous statements, as per the report. Epstein was accused of being a notorious child sex offender, but he died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on further charges of sex trafficking minors, while FBI investigators concluded he killed himself, as reported by Newsweek. Elon Musk's Deleted Claim While Tesla CEO Elon Musk had also claimed in a now-deleted social media post that US president Donald Trump's name appeared in the Epstein files, and he called on Trump to release the files "as promised," as reported by Newsweek. Donald Trump Distances Himself from Epstein Controversy Trump, who does not stand accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, has responded, saying he cannot understand why people are "still talking about [...] this creep," as quoted in the report. Democrats Keep Pushing for Public Disclosure This case has led Democrats to seek to release the files publicly, and the matter made its way into the political discourse as the House Rules Committee considered the issue after a failed attempt by the Democrats to force a vote in Congress on whether the Epstein files should be made public, as reported by Newsweek. FAQs Did the amendment pass? No. It was blocked in the House Rules Committee by a 7–5 vote, as per the Newsweek report. Is Trump involved in the Epstein case? There's no evidence he is named in the files or accused of wrongdoing.
