Jeanine Pirro Saves Job After Oval Office Showdown.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told reporters Wednesday that Trump is legally permitted to fire U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro. He offered no direct defense of her job.

• Pirro dropped charges against four people accused of vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
• Blanche said Trump 'is allowed' to fire a U.S. attorney — 'He's the president.'
• Blanche also praised Pirro's office for making Washington, D.C. safer.

Why it matters: The question came after Pirro's dismissal of the charges drew reported anger from Trump. Blanche's answer confirmed the president's authority without affirming her position.

• Washington Post senior political reporter Aaron Blake said on X the response was not 'the most resounding defense of one of your US attorneys.'

How 11 sources split on this story

What’s next: No termination has been announced. Trump has not commented publicly on Pirro's status.

• Will Trump move to fire Pirro, or was Blanche's statement a warning she will ultimately survive?
• What standard, if any, limits a president's authority to remove a U.S. attorney over a charging decision?