President Trump on Thursday, July 30th, 2026, indicated he has "no objection" to temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general due to opposition from Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Both senators have effectively stalled Blanche's confirmation process with concerns primarily related to clarifications over a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund" established in a settlement involving the president and the IRS.

Cornyn has demanded that the Justice Department and Blanche formally commit in writing that the fund will not be reinstated and has sought changes to the president's personal IRS settlement agreement tied to the fund. Cornyn stated he is not prepared to vote "yes" on Blanche's nomination without such an agreement. Meanwhile, Tillis expressed optimism about a resolution but criticized the White House for "giving the president bad advice."

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Chuck Grassley, postponed a scheduled vote on Blanche's nomination after Cornyn and Tillis threatened to block or not attend the meeting. Trump suggested leaving Blanche as acting attorney general for the next five months and resubmitting his nomination after Cornyn and Tillis leave Congress in early January 2027. Tillis, who announced his retirement last year, warned that this strategy could backfire if Senate Republicans lose seats or their majority.

Trump praised Blanche on Truth Social, calling him a "STAR" with the potential to be one of the "Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time," while criticizing Cornyn and Tillis for refusing to endorse the nominee and noting their political careers have been affected by his actions.

Blanche has stated that the anti-weaponization fund is moribund from the Justice Department's perspective and that the immunity deal related to the settlement is limited in scope. He remarked, "If it’s dead, all we’re talking about is throwing the dirt on the casket," suggesting internal White House resistance to fully resolving the issue.

Sources