Online MAGA pushes DOJ Civil Rights chief Harmeet Dhillon for attorney general

The sudden firing of Attorney General Pam Bondi Thursday triggered an immediate scramble within the right wing to identify her replacement — including a push from MAGA influencers to elevate Harmeet Dhillon, whose tenure as chief of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division has drawn sharp criticism from pro-democracy advocates.

When President Donald Trump announced Bondi’s ouster, he named her deputy, Todd Blanche, as acting attorney general. But candidates for a permanent replacement were already circulating inside Republican political circles and the White House.

When news outlets first reported Bondi’s impending exit, many identified Lee Zeldin, currently administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as her probable successor. 

The internet had other ideas. Almost instantly, a chorus of MAGA-aligned voices began promoting assistant attorney general Dhillon. 

“Harmeet Dhillon would be an exceptional Attorney General,” anti-voting activist Scott Presler posted on X. “She’s an excellent communicator, transparent, & has been at the forefront of election integrity — suing states for their voter rolls to ensure that only American citizens can vote.”

That message was already resonating on right-wing social media. 

“Harmeet Dhillon always seemed to me to be the obvious AG,” conservative influencer Mike Cernovich wrote. “If this isn’t locked down, she’s definitely someone most supported by the base.”

Others echoed his sentiment, framing Dhillon as both qualified and politically aligned with Trump’s agenda.

“Harmeet Dhillon would make an excellent Attorney General,” Tim Clark, a former senior executive in the Trump White House, wrote. “She would bring the scales of justice, big time!”

Some accounts emphasized her current role at the DOJ as the reason she could promptly step in.

“ATTORNEY GENERAL: Trump ought to name Assistant AG Harmeet Dhillon as attorney general,” Alexander Muse, a conservative columnist, posted. “This would be a great move and eliminate any ramp up period.”

“Ok hear me out again,” far-right conservative commentator Rogan O’Handley wrote. “Harmeet Dhillon as US Attorney General.”

Even the former Republican member of Congress George Santos — a man not unfamiliar with federal law enforcement, albeit from the defendant’s dock — joined in amplifying the idea.

“I’d love this!” Santos wrote in reply to O’Handley.

Even more mainstream right-wing media elevated Dhillon as a leading contender, emphasizing her work inside the department and perceived readiness to take the reins. 

“She’s whipped into shape the civil rights unit,” attorney Mark Geragos said on Newsmax. “My suspicion is that she’s also the only one that could get confirmed out of all the names being bandied about.”

Despite the flurry of online advocacy from influencers of the extended MAGA universe, Dhillon is hardly a fringe suggestion. She is reportedly among several names currently being discussed as a potential replacement, alongside other Republican figures. 

But the intensity of the online campaign underscores how strongly she is favored by Trump’s base.

That enthusiasm may be cause for alarm among voting rights advocates.

As head of the Civil Rights Division — the unit historically responsible for enforcing federal voting rights law — Dhillon has overseen a dramatic shift away from protecting voting rights towards attacking them. 

That new focus has meant the DOJ is prioritizing efforts to seize state voter rolls nationwide, undermine mail-in voting and support aggressive gerrymanders to benefit Republicans. 

At the same time, Dhillon’s division has been less active in bringing traditional voting rights cases — such as lawsuits challenging racially discriminatory maps or restrictions on voting — marking a significant departure from prior administrations.

That record now sits at the center of the emerging fight over who will lead the Justice Department next.

The online campaign to elevate Dhillon is not, on its own, a decision. But in Trump-era politics — where media ecosystems and political power are closely intertwined — it can significantly shape outcomes.