Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker praised President Trump’s decision to nominate William Barr to replace him.
“The president’s selection of Bill Barr as the next attorney general is a continuation of this law-and-order presidency,” Whitaker said as he introduced Trump at the Project Safe Neighborhood conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Barr previously served as attorney general from 1991-1993 under former President George H.W. Bush.
“Donald Trump ran for office as a law-and-order candidate … Now he is governing as a law-and-order president,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker was at the White House with Trump on Friday morning, shortly before Trump announced to reporters that Barr would be nominated. Whitaker joined Trump aboard the Marine One helicopter and aboard Air Force One en route to Missouri.
It’s unclear if Whitaker, appointed Nov. 7 to his current post, was considered for a full-time nomination. Whitaker served as fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions‘ chief of staff and previously worked as a U.S. attorney in Iowa.
“Bill is supremely qualified, highly respected at the Department of Justice, and will continue to support the men and women in blue. I commend the president for this excellent choice,” Whitaker said.
Trump praised Whitaker for the job he’s done as acting attorney general. Trump put him in the top spot at the Justice Department after he fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
