Overview
- During a White House photo session last week, Trump told assembled U.S. attorneys they were "weak" and "ineffective" for not moving faster against his political foes, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- The confrontation came a day before prosecutors sent grand-jury subpoenas to the Federal Reserve tied to Chair Jerome Powell's testimony; Powell has publicly said he is the subject of a DOJ inquiry.
- Recent reporting says Trump has privately called Attorney General Pam Bondi "weak" and has discussed appointing special counsels to bypass what he views as slow DOJ progress.
- Legal setbacks have compounded tensions, with indictments against James Comey and Letitia James dismissed after a judge found the prosecutor who secured them was unlawfully appointed.
- Despite internal frustrations, the White House issued statements praising Bondi, even as Susie Wiles criticized her Epstein files rollout and Steve Bannon said she is losing support among Trump's base.