• President Donald Trump is appointing Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.
• Trump pulled his controversial nomination of Ed Martin to hold that role permanently
• Trump's move came as Martin faced the strong likelihood of the Senate not confirming him.
• Martin drew criticism for his advocacy for defendants in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot cases.

President Donald Trump confirmed late Thursday he was appointing Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia after pulling his controversial nomination of to hold that role permanently.

"Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York," Trump .

"She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!"

reported earlier Trump was strongly considering Pirro for the position, which oversees criminal prosecutions and civil cases in Washington, D.C., a federal district.

Pirro is the former district attorney for Westchester County, New York.

She is also a staunch supporter of Trump, who pardoned her ex-husband, , for his tax evasion conviction in the final hours of Trump's first stint in the White House.

"Jeanine Pirro has been a wonderful addition to 'The Five' over the last three years and a longtime beloved host across Fox News Media who contributed greatly to our success throughout her 14-year tenure," a Fox News spokesperson said in a statement. "We wish her all the best in her new role in Washington."

Trump earlier Thursday said he was dropping the nomination of Martin, who had drawn criticism for his advocacy of Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants, and faced the strong likelihood of the Senate not confirming him.

Trump in a separate social media post later Thursday said, "Ed Martin has done an AMAZING job as interim U.S. Attorney, and will be moving to the Department of Justice as the new Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney."

"In these highly important roles, Ed will make sure we finally investigate the Weaponization of our Government under the Biden Regime, and provide much needed Justice for its victims," Trump wrote.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, on Tuesday said he would not support 's nomination, dealing what appeared to be a final blow to his chance of winning confirmation.

Tillis cited Martin's support for Capitol riot defendants.

"He's a terrific person, and he wasn't getting the support," Trump said at the White House as he said he was abandoning Martin's nomination.

"I have to be straight. I was disappointed," the president said.

"A lot of people were disappointed, but that's the way it works. Sometimes that's the way it works. And he wasn't rejected, but we felt it would be very it would be hard."

D.C.'s shadow senator, Ankit Jain, in a statement, said, "If Jeanine Pirro is nominated, I would hope to meet with her and understand her priorities. I am open to the idea that someone I disagree with politically can be an effective prosecutor, which is the only role of the position."

"But for me to support her, Pirro must make it clear she knows how to do the job and is focused on fighting violent crime. I worry that, like Ed Martin, she would focus on prosecuting the President's enemies and whitewashing the events of January 6th and the relentless lying about the election results that caused it."