Trump Moves to Pull Todd Blanche’s AG Nomination as GOP Senate Revolt Puts Confirmation in Jeopardy

President Donald Trump is considering an unusual solution to the Republican resistance threatening Todd Blanche’s confirmation as attorney general: withdraw the nomination, keep Blanche running the Justice Department in an acting capacity, and try again after two GOP holdouts leave the Senate.

The president raised that possibility Thursday as Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina continued withholding support. Trump called Blanche “a STAR” and wrote that he had “no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name” before resubmitting it once Cornyn and Tillis are out of office. Both senators’ terms end in January.

The threat turns a confirmation dispute into a wider test of power inside the Republican Party. Trump is standing behind a former personal lawyer he has chosen to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency. Cornyn and Tillis insist their objections concern written safeguards connected to a controversial settlement involving Trump, the Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department.

A Nearly $1.8 Billion Fund Sits at the Center of the Fight.

The dispute involves a proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund” valued at nearly $1.8 billion. The fund appeared in a settlement connected to Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS and was intended to compensate people who claimed the federal government had unfairly targeted them. Critics raised concerns that the money could potentially benefit people prosecuted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Cornyn wants the Justice Department to state in writing that the fund is permanently dead. He is also seeking tighter language around audit protections included in the settlement. ABC News reported that an addendum signed by Blanche would stop existing audits of tax returns filed by Trump, his family and their companies.

Blanche has said the fund will not move forward, but the senators say spoken assurances are not enough. Cornyn told CBS News that he wants to ensure the fund stays dead and that Trump does not receive protection from future audits beyond what an ordinary taxpayer would receive.

The Texas senator also rejected Trump’s suggestion that only two Republicans are concerned. “POTUS is mistaken” to think the objections are limited to Cornyn and Tillis, he wrote. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said he was still gathering information and would not say whether he would currently vote for Blanche.

Trump’s Withdrawal Threat Changes the Timing, Not the Leadership

The Senate Judiciary Committee postponed a planned Thursday vote on Blanche’s nomination after supporters failed to secure enough backing. Democrats are broadly opposed, making Republican unity essential for moving the nomination out of committee.

Trump’s proposed workaround would not immediately force Blanche out of the Justice Department. Blanche could continue serving as acting attorney general even if the White House withdrew his formal nomination, according to ABC News. That gives Trump room to wait rather than accept the changes Cornyn and Tillis are demanding.

Tillis acknowledged that the president has the authority to gamble on a later confirmation. “Roll the dice,” the North Carolina senator said, noting that the White House could try again after the senators leave. Cornyn warned that the strategy carries political risk because the Senate’s makeup could change after the November midterm elections.

Cornyn lost his Republican primary after Trump backed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Tillis chose not to seek reelection following clashes with the president. Trump claimed Thursday that he had ended both men’s political careers, sharpening an already tense policy disagreement.

Blanche Still Has Powerful Allies Behind Him

Trump formally sent Blanche’s nomination to the Senate on June 8. The White House has promoted endorsements from major law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Those groups pointed to Blanche’s prosecutorial experience, public safety record and work with local law enforcement.

Yet the fight is no longer mainly about Blanche’s résumé. It is about whether Republican senators will accept verbal promises from the Justice Department when a settlement involving the president’s personal tax interests remains disputed.

For Trump, withdrawing the nomination could preserve Blanche’s control of the department while avoiding an immediate committee defeat. It could also create a larger problem later. A new Senate may be less friendly, and delaying confirmation would leave the Justice Department led by an acting official through another politically charged election season.

For Cornyn and Tillis, the standoff offers one final chance to exercise Senate oversight before leaving office. Neither senator has ruled out supporting Blanche if the administration agrees to firm written limits.

That leaves the nomination suspended between loyalty and leverage. Trump can wait, the senators can hold their votes, and Blanche can remain at the department. What neither side can guarantee is that January will produce an easier path than the one now blocked in July.