{"id":2587351,"date":"2026-04-05T13:52:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T17:52:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kaine-says-hes-not-automatic-no-on-trump-attorney-general-pick\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T13:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T17:53:48","slug":"kaine-says-hes-not-automatic-no-on-trump-attorney-general-pick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kaine-says-hes-not-automatic-no-on-trump-attorney-general-pick\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaine says he&#8217;s not &#8216;automatic no&#8217; on Trump attorney general pick"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fkaine-says-hes-not-automatic-no-on-trump-attorney-general-pick%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2587351&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Sen. Tim Kaine said he\u2019s not automatically opposed to President Trump\u2019s next <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/report-cuomo-among-contenders-for-bidens-attorney-general-pick\/\" title=\"Report: Cuomo Among Contenders for Biden...s ... ...\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-ag-barr-authorizes-federal-prosecutors-to-pursue-substantial-allegations-of-voting-irregularities-before-2020-election-is-certified\/\" title=\"BREAKING: AG Barr Authorizes Federal Prosecutors to Pursue &quot;Substantial Allegations&quot; of Voting Irregularities Before 2020 Election is Certified\">attorney general<\/a> pick<\/a> after the firing of Pam bondi, two months after a tense hearing over Epstein-related files. Kaine did not vote for Bondi\u2019s confirmation in 2025 but has supported other Trump appointees, and he argued that as a rule a president shoudl appoint a capable, independent team, voting no only if a nominee lacks qualifications or character. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pam-bondi-announces-the-doj-is-suing-tim-walzs-minnesota\/\" title=\"... Announces the DOJ Is Suing Tim Walz&#039;s Minnesota\">piece notes bondi\u2019<\/a>s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >dismissal drew bipartisan reactions<\/a> and some lighthearted jokes from lawmakers, while also highlighting the broader question of who could replace Bondi, with names such as Lee Zeldin, Jeanine Pirro, Harmeet dhillon, and Ken Paxton floated, though Sen. Mike Lee denied any interest in the role. NBC\u2019s Meet the Press coverage and commentary from Washington Examiner\u2019s Byron York are cited to illustrate views on Trump\u2019s ability to reshuffle without upheaval.Kaine emphasized that the next attorney general should defend the rule of law and resist pressuring the office to align with the president\u2019s wishes.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Kaine says he&rsquo;s not &lsquo;automatic no&rsquo; on Trump attorney general pick after Bondi fired<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2551495\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-kaine\/\">Tim Kaine<\/a> (D-VA) said he&rsquo;s not &ldquo;automatically&rdquo; opposed to voting for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> next pick for attorney general.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4513647\/trump-fires-attorney-general-pam-bondi\/\">Trump fired former Attorney General Pam Bondi<\/a> on Thursday, two months after a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4454940\/seven-takeaways-from-bondis-fiery-house-testimony\/\">heated hearing over her handling of the Epstein files<\/a>. Kaine didn&rsquo;t vote for Bondi&rsquo;s confirmation hearing in 2025. However, NBC&rsquo;s Kristen Welker noted he did vote for other Trump administration officials, such as <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.senate.gov\/legislative\/LIS\/roll_call_votes\/vote1191\/vote_119_1_00017.htm\">former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem<\/a>, and asked if he&rsquo;s open to voting yes to whoever Trump picks as Bondi&rsquo;s replacement.<\/p>\n<p>Kaine said he &ldquo;never start off as an automatic no,&rdquo; and added &ldquo;we&rsquo;ll see&rdquo; who Trump proposes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;If you get elected as president, I think that should carry a mandate to put in an executive team,&rdquo; Kaine said on NBC&rsquo;s <em>Meet the Press<\/em>. &ldquo;If somebody is not qualified or has lack of character, I&rsquo;ll vote no. But I never start off as a no.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3462060&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=4e0524f2d4dfb06cd5047ed95a0080e3\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kaine emphasized &ldquo;the lesson&rdquo; from Bondi&rsquo;s time as attorney general is that the position is meant to be led with &ldquo;an independent gravitas and integrity,&rdquo; and argued Bondi &ldquo;threw all that away.&rdquo; He added the attorney general can either &ldquo;stand up for the rule of law, and you may make Donald Trump mad,&rdquo; or try to do all that Trump wants and still make him mad.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That should be a lesson to whoever is the next nominee for AG,&rdquo; Kaine said. &ldquo;Be the nation&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/read-it-29-sheriffs-promise-to-safeguard-second-amendment-as-biden-cracks-down-on-gun-rights\/\" title=\"READ IT: 29 Sheriffs Promise To Safeguard Second Amendment As Biden Cracks Down On Gun Rights\">chief law enforcement officer<\/a>, and don&rsquo;t let the president cause you to trim your conscience or become a toady.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Bondi&rsquo;s ouster drew bipartisan support, with House Republicans like Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thomas-massie\/\">Thomas Massie<\/a> (R-KY) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4514081\/house-republicans-pam-bondi-successor-justice-epstein-victims\/\">expressing hope the next attorney general will release all files<\/a> related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some lawmakers also poked fun at Bondi&rsquo;s firing, like Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) parodying her as a contestant on Trump&rsquo;s <em>The Apprentice<\/em> and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4514491\/lauren-boebert-jokes-dow-fell-below-50000-pam-bondi-ouster\/\">asking, &ldquo;DOW fell below 50,000?&rdquo;<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4514649\/trump-next-firings-bondi-cabinet-shakeup\/\"><strong>WHO COULD TRUMP REMOVE NEXT AFTER BONDI? CABINET SHAKE-UPS FUEL SPECULATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4515217\/heres-who-trump-could-choose-next-attorney-general-after-firing-pam-bondi\/\">Potential replacements for Bondi<\/a> include Environmental Protection Agency Administrator <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lee-zeldin\/\">Lee Zeldin<\/a>, U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jeanine-pirro\/\">Jeanine Pirro<\/a>, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\/\">Harmeet Dhillon<\/a>, and Texas Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\">Ken Paxton<\/a>. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) shut down speculation that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4515274\/mike-lee-denies-interest-attorney-general-im-not-going-anywhere\/\">he could step in as attorney general<\/a>, saying on X, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going anywhere.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> chief political correspondent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/byron-york\/\">Byron York<\/a> said Thursday that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4515041\/noem-firing-pushed-trump-oust-bondi-byron-york\/\">Trump&rsquo;s firing of Noem went &ldquo;really well,&rdquo;<\/a> signaling to the president that he can make changes within his administration without any turmoil. Noem was fired as DHS secretary last month and replaced by Markwayne Mullin, who was serving as an Oklahoma senator at the time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kaine not automatic on Trump&#8217;s AG pick after Bondi<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2587352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-collage-cjs7uptvy-1775402183597-e1775410588421.jpg?1775396192&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[77197,5894,39855,41831,3634],"class_list":["post-2587351","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-attorney-general-nomination","tag-politics","tag-senate-confirmation","tag-tim-kaine","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-collage-cjs7uptvy-1775402183597-e1775410588421.jpg?1775396192&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587351","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587351"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587351\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587355,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587351\/revisions\/2587355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587351"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587351"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587351"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}