President Trump on Thursday tapped Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and former judge, to serve as the top prosecutor in the District of Columbia.
Trump announced on Truth Social that he was appointing Pirro to the role of U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., on an interim basis.
“In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television,” Trump posted.
“Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York,” he continued. “She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!”
It was not immediately clear if Trump intended to nominate Pirro to the job on a full-time basis, which would require Senate confirmation.
Pirro is a former judge and prosecutor who was elected multiple times to serve as district attorney for Westchester County in New York.
She is currently a Fox News host who appears regularly on “The Five,” though Pirro was not among the show’s panelists Thursday as speculation swirled about the D.C. job.
Pirro has been a fixture at the network for nearly two decades. She was named as a co-host of the network’s top rated table talk show in 2022.
The firebrand commentator has been sharply critical of Democrats, top media figures and others who Trump and his allies regularly argue have “weaponized” the Justice Department against him.
During Trump’s first term, Pirro drew a rare rebuke from her own network in 2019 when she made controversial comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), an episode during which Trump defended her.
In a statement to The Hill late Thursday, a Fox News spokesperson said “Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to The Five over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across FOX News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure. We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington.”
Pirro is just the latest in a slew of Fox hosts, including Pete Hegseth and Sean Duffy, to be plucked from the cable channel to serve in the president’s Cabinet.
Trump has a complicated relationship with Fox going back years, and he regularly knocks the channel over its polling numbers and coverage he views as not favorable enough of him.
But in Pirro, Trump has had a consistent ally.
Trump earlier Thursday indicated he would withdraw the nomination of Ed Martin for the top D.C. prosecutor job.
Martin’s chances of confirmation hit a roadblock when Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), a member of the Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday he would not back the nominee, effectively sinking his nomination given the tight margins in the Senate.
Martin, who has never served as a prosecutor, has been serving in the role on an interim basis and has already taken a number of remarkable moves in his short tenure. He was otherwise set to continue serving as interim U.S. attorney until May 20.
Trump announced in a follow up post on Truth Social that Martin would take a job in the Justice Department as a pardon attorney and head of a Weaponization Working Group.
“In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims,” Trump posted.
Dominick Mastrangelo contributed to this report.
Updated at 7:45 p.m. EDT
