President Donald Trump has urged the Senate to grant immediate confirmation to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, reinforcing his support for the nominee just one day after suggesting a potential delay. The push comes as Blanche’s nomination faces significant hurdles linked to a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.
The controversy surrounding the fund has drawn direct criticism from Republican senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, who have demanded ironclad assurances that the initiative will be permanently abandoned. In a social media post on July 31, Trump lashed out at Cornyn, defending the fund as a necessary measure to assist “the great American Patriots who were hunted down like dogs and whose lives were unfairly and illegally destroyed by the Crooked Joe Biden Administration.” The president further stated his belief that those affected by government abuse deserve compensation, while reiterating that Blanche remains a “good man” who should be confirmed without delay.
On July 30, Trump had hinted that he might withdraw Blanche’s nomination until Cornyn and Tillis were no longer in office. Notably, Cornyn lost his primary election to a candidate backed by Trump, and Tillis is not seeking re-election following previous political clashes with the president.
The legislative process hit a standstill when Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley canceled a scheduled vote on July 30. The delay stemmed from ongoing concerns raised by Cornyn and Tillis regarding Blanche’s management of a settlement involving a lawsuit against the IRS. That settlement, which was later voided by a federal judge, was intended to shield the president, his two eldest sons, and their business from previous tax audits while simultaneously establishing the contested “anti-weaponization” fund.
Senator Tillis pushed back against the president’s rhetoric, stating, “The criminals who assaulted police officers and defiled our nation’s Capitol are not 'great American patriots' who are 'victims of government abuse.' Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal government.”
Although Blanche testified during a June 2 congressional hearing that the administration was not moving forward with the fund, senators remain skeptical. Tillis noted that he and Cornyn continue to work with the acting attorney general to formally dissolve the initiative, describing Blanche as patient and forthright. Tillis emphasized that he intends to continue working in good faith to eliminate what he termed a “legal and political albatross” and to ensure taxpayer funds are not misallocated.
