Surprisingly, Bondi was once known for her reserved nature. Her friends had even nicknamed her “Pambi” to reflect her shyness. This timid personality extended into her professional sphere, as noted in evaluations from her tenure at the Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office, which highlighted her tendency to be overwhelmed by challenging cases and assertive attorneys. In a January 2026 feature by The Atlantic, her former courthouse colleagues confirmed that her newfound assertiveness seemed directly tied to her aspirations within the Republican Party.

Bondi herself once hinted at her sensitivity during a 2016 interview with Elysian, admitting she had “a very thin skin.” However, she claimed to have developed strategies to manage it. Her friends recounted to The Atlantic that as she rose within the GOP, her behavior became increasingly contradictory. Despite having LGBTQIA+ friends and never expressing opposition to gay marriage in private, Bondi publicly took a firm stance against it as Florida’s attorney general. Privately, she reportedly reassured a friend, “You know me. I love gay people. You know my heart.” This duality has left many questioning her authenticity.

One of her old friends openly shared with The Atlantic that Bondi’s personality shift appeared driven by her career ambitions. They expressed their disillusionment, stating, “She went cheap for power. … Was it worth it?”

Bondi’s inclusion in a group chat with these former friends might be prudent, as The Atlantic’s sources suggest she has alienated many. As one former acquaintance put it, “People who knew the old Pam, we just can’t resolve it.” Another echoed this sentiment, wondering if they ever truly knew her after her vehement support for Donald Trump. Whether her new alliances will withstand the test of time or if another transformation is on the horizon remains to be seen.

It bears mentioning that Bondi has an all-new squad to match her new views. To The Atlantic, one former Trump aide shared that Bondi had referred to the president’s Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles, as “my best friend.” Bondi herself gushed in an episode of “The Katie Miller Podcast” that she was on a group chat set up by former NASCAR star Danica Patrick. Speaking of the group’s conversations, Bondi shared that they’d been brought together by the salacious rumors that seemed to follow them, and revealed of the participants, “It’s Danica Patrick, it’s Tulsi Gabbard, it’s Lara Trump, it’s Vani Hari, the amazing food babe, it’s Mikhaila Fuller, Jessica Cross, Gabrielle Lyon, the doctor who’s amazing, Meghan McCain, and Codie Sanchez.” Added to that, Bondi is also married to John Wakefield, and she told Miller that they had tons of couples’ hangs with others in the Trump administration.

It’s probably just as well that Bondi is in that group chat, because the common consensus among those who spoke with The Atlantic was that she’d burned a ton of bridges. As one told the outlet, “People who knew the old Pam, we just can’t resolve it.” Likewise, another questioned if they even knew who Bondi was after she became such a fierce advocate for Donald Trump. Time will tell if her new friendships fare better, or whether we’ll see another personality change at some point in the future.