Trump's Attorney General Position is an Impossible, Career-Destroying Job
Source: Jim Newell. "The worst job in all of Trump’s Cabinet just opened up.." April 4, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that being Trump's Attorney General is the worst job in government because Trump demands illegal prosecutions of his enemies. Anyone who takes the job will either have to break the law or refuse Trump and get fired anyway.
Conclusion
The position of Attorney General under Trump is fundamentally impossible to perform successfully because it requires choosing between illegal actions and inevitable termination
Premises
- Trump demands his Attorney General prosecute his enemies for legally protected activities like unflattering commentary
- These demands violate both law and basic ethical principles
- Attorney Generals face a lose-lose choice: refuse Trump's illegal demands (and get fired) or attempt them (and face legal humiliation)
- Attempting to fulfill Trump's demands damages both the Justice Department and the AG's personal reputation
- Even trying to please Trump fails to earn his respect and still results in eventual firing
- Pam Bondi was fired despite attempting to comply with Trump's wishes, demonstrating the pattern
- The job involves constant stress, criticism from all sides, and inevitable public termination
Assumptions
- Trump will continue making legally inappropriate demands of his Attorney General
- The legal system will continue to block prosecutions that lack legal merit
- Trump's respect cannot be earned through compliance with his demands
- The Justice Department's institutional integrity matters
- Career reputation and legacy are important considerations for potential candidates