Donald Trump has been accused of running a “misogynistic administration” after dismissing Pam Bondi as attorney general, making her the second woman to be fired from a cabinet already dominated by men. Bondi was removed on Thursday amid frustration over her performance, particularly regarding the release of files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The dismissal came less than a month after Trump ousted Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, following criticism of her management and immigration enforcement. Bondi and Noem are the only two cabinet members to lose their jobs so far in Trump’s second term, despite male officials such as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr facing multiple controversies.
Both women have been replaced by men, at least temporarily: Senator Markwayne Mullin took over at homeland security, while Todd Blanche became interim attorney general. This has left the cabinet as the least diverse this century, prompting accusations of double standards.
Democrats and former Republicans criticised the pattern. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett posted: “I see a theme. He will throw the incompetent women under the bus a lot faster than the incompetent men.” Former Reagan and Bush administration official Bill Kristol noted: “Bondi was awful, but no worse than Patel. Noem was terrible, but no worse than Hegseth. Funny that it’s only the women who get fired.”
Critics point to Trump’s history with women, including over 25 allegations of sexual misconduct and a jury finding him liable for sexual abuse. Tara Setmayer of the Seneca Project said: “Donald Trump is a misogynist and this is a misogynistic administration and they’re not shy about that.”
