Trump Lauds Attorney General's Congressional Appearance as 'Fantastic'
President Donald Trump publicly praised Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday, describing her performance before Congress as "fantastic" despite widespread criticism of her conduct during the hearing. The president's endorsement came through a post on his Truth Social platform, where he celebrated Bondi's handling of intense questioning from House Judiciary Committee members.
Bondi's Controversial Testimony Draws Attention
During Wednesday's congressional hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi engaged in what many observers characterized as unorthodox behavior, including shouting, sneering, and launching personal attacks against lawmakers. The hearing primarily focused on the Justice Department's handling of documents related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, whose case has generated significant public interest and political scrutiny.
Throughout her testimony, Bondi repeatedly inserted praise for President Trump into her responses, at one point declaring him "the greatest president in American history." In a particularly notable moment that quickly became an internet meme, Bondi abruptly pivoted from questions about Epstein to celebrate stock market achievements under Trump's administration.
"Because Donald Trump — the Dow," Bondi exclaimed during the hearing, referencing the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching record highs. This statement occurred as she attempted to deflect questions about the Epstein investigation and redirect attention to economic accomplishments.
Trump's Public Support Amid Administration Tensions
The president's public praise for Bondi comes amid reports suggesting Trump has grown disillusioned with his attorney general for failing to advance his political agenda more effectively. In his Truth Social post, Trump specifically commended Bondi for her performance "under intense fire from the Trump Deranged Radical Left Lunatics" during what he called "the never ending saga of Jeffrey Epstein."
Trump further claimed in his statement that the hearing had proven "conclusively" that he had been "100% exonerated" of what he described as "ridiculous Russia, Russia, Russia type charges" related to the Epstein investigation. The president's name appears thousands of times in the Epstein documents released by the Justice Department, though law enforcement officials have not accused Trump of any wrongdoing in connection with the case.
Political Theater and Personal Attacks
Beyond praising Bondi, Trump used his social media platform to criticize Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, whom he described as having "made a total fool of himself" during the hearing. This criticism followed Bondi's own attack on Massie during the testimony, where she labeled him "a failed politician" suffering from "Trump derangement syndrome" as he pressed her about the Justice Department's mishandling of redactions in Epstein-related documents.
Trump further claimed in his post that "nobody cared about Epstein when he was alive" and suggested that interest in the case only emerged when it presented potential "Political Harm to a very popular President who has brought our Country back from the brink of extinction." The president asserted without evidence that Democratic efforts to focus attention on Epstein were "backfiring badly" against what he characterized as "tremendous Republican SUCCESS."
Historical Context and Ongoing Scrutiny
The relationship between Trump and Epstein has drawn renewed attention as lawmakers continue investigating the scandal. Trump was previously close friends with Epstein but has attempted to distance himself from the financier since Epstein's 2008 conviction on Florida prostitution charges. This distancing strategy has recently come under increased scrutiny as congressional investigations progress.
Lawmakers from both parties continue to press for more information about Epstein and his connections to powerful figures, with the Trump administration facing ongoing criticism for withholding documents related to the case. The congressional hearing featuring Bondi represents just one episode in what promises to be continued political and legal examination of the Epstein matter and its implications for various public figures.
