Trump Announces That He's Nominating Jeanine Pirro To Fill As Acting US Attorney For District Of Columbia
In a striking and unconventional appointment that has already reverberated through legal and political circles, President Donald Trump announced Thursday that former judge and Fox News firebrand Jeanine Pirro will step in as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
The announcement came via Trump’s signature platform, Truth Social, where he praised Pirro’s legal credentials and long-standing service both in the courtroom and in the conservative media landscape. The move follows the withdrawal of Ed Martin’s nomination after his confirmation was stonewalled by resistance from within the GOP, most notably from Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.
“Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position,” Trump declared. “She is in a class by herself.” Indeed, Pirro’s résumé is nothing short of formidable. As the first woman elected district attorney in Westchester County, New York, and later a judge, she built a reputation for no-nonsense prosecution and tough-on-crime policies long before she became a household name on Fox News.
Her television show Justice with Judge Jeanine and her current role on The Five have made her one of the most recognized and unapologetically combative voices in conservative media.
But Trump’s decision to shift Pirro from commentator to top prosecutor in the nation’s capital signals more than just loyalty—it’s a tactical elevation of a trusted ally into one of the most consequential prosecutorial offices in the federal system.
Trump’s pivot away from Ed Martin followed a rocky path through the Senate. Despite praising Martin as “a terrific person” whose time as interim U.S. Attorney saw crime drop significantly in D.C., Trump acknowledged that the internal friction, particularly with Sen. Tillis, had become a political liability.
Tillis cited Martin’s sympathetic comments about January 6 defendants as a disqualifier, reinforcing the internal fault lines within the GOP’s post-Trump realignment.
Tillis didn’t stop at opposition—he floated an alternative: former SEC Chair Jay Clayton, a figure more palatable to centrist Republicans. But Trump had other plans.
With Pirro, Trump sends a very different message: he’s not compromising. He’s doubling down on a populist, law-and-order agenda by placing a figure known for her sharp rhetorical style and legal acumen at the helm of D.C.'s U.S. Attorney’s Office. And in doing so, he’s reminding allies and enemies alike that when Trump wants something done, he doesn’t retreat—he reloads.