Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday named his former chief of staff, James Uthmeier as Florida’s attorney general, handing the state’s top law enforcement role to a trusted aide who has helped orchestrate and defend some of his most divisive initiatives.

Uthmeier said he will approach his new role with an “America first agenda” that fights drug cartels and maintains DeSantis’ approach to government.

James Uthmeier was sworn in as Florida's new attorney general, vowing an "America-first" legal approach, with Governor DeSantis emphasizing the office's impact.

While DeSantis had said earlier he would appoint Uthmeier to succeed former Attorney General Ashley Moody, he made it official during a brief ceremony at the Old Capitol. DeSantis last month appointed Moody to the U.S. Senate, after Marco Rubio was picked by President Donald Trump to become U.S. secretary of state.

Justice Meredith Sasso swore in James Uthmeier as Attorney General in Tallahassee Monday. The state’s new “top cop” was sworn in on a Bible and offered onlookers at the Old Capitol Building in Tallahassee insight into how scripture informs his view of the law.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday the appointment of James Uthmeier to take over as the state's chief legal officer.

James Uthmeier assumed his position as Florida Attorney General on Monday after serving as Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) chief of staff in the governor's office.