Trump picks San Francisco attorney Harmeet Dhillon for spot in his administration

SAN FRANCISCO - President-elect Donald Trump announced that he's choosing San Francisco attorney Harmeet Dhillon for a job in his administration – specifically to be assistant attorney general for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Justice. 

"Throughout her career, Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished Civil Liberties, including taking on Big Tech for censoring our Free Speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers. Harmeet is one of the top Election lawyers in the Country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted," Trump wrote on social media Monday. "In her new role at the DOJ, Harmeet will be a tireless defender of our Constitutional Rights, and will enforce our Civil Rights and Election Laws FAIRLY and FIRMLY."

Trump also gave a bit of Dhillon's bio, saying she graduated from Dartmouth College and the University of Law School, who clerked in the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. He also mentioned her religion, saying she is a "respected member of the Sikh religious community." 

Harmeet Dhillon greets President Trump after he arrives aboard Air Force One at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View, Calif. to attend a Republican Party fundraiser at an undisclosed location on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019. (Photo By Paul Chinn/The

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Dhillon, a top leader in California's Republican Party, responded on X. 

"I’m extremely honored by President Trump’s nomination to assist with our nation’s civil rights agenda. It has been my dream to be able to serve our great country, and I am so excited to be part of an incredible team of lawyers led by @PamBondi. I cannot wait to get to work!" referring to Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department. 

Both Bondi, a former Florida attorney general, and Dhillon’s positions require approval from the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans.

Dhillon is the managing partner of the Dhillon Law Group in San Francisco. 

She hosted a fundraiser in June for Trump, and as far back as 2019, Dhillon greeted the president at Moffett Airfield to attend a Republican fundraiser. 

This summer, Dhillon wrote an opinion piece for The Hill, titled, "I'm a civil rights attorney, here's the appalling truth about Kamala Harris's appalling record." 

Dhillon is the second San Franciscan to be nominated to the administration. Trump has also nominated tech entrepreneur David Sacks to oversee AI and crypto policy.