Senator Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has rejected President Donald Trump's threat to withdraw the nomination of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, emphasizing that the White House must honor an earlier agreement to secure his support.

Tillis, who is retiring, has withheld his backing for Blanche's confirmation unless the administration agrees to permanently eliminate a nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund and revise language related to Trump's audit immunity in the settlement agreement. Despite Trump's public threat to pull the nomination, Tillis stated that negotiations with the administration are ongoing and that he is "not a no" on Blanche.

"That's his prerogative," Tillis said regarding Trump's threat. When asked what it would take for him to vote to confirm Blanche, Tillis replied, "exactly what Blanche committed to."

Tillis also blamed someone on Trump's team for the stalled confirmation process, saying, "I believe that one of the president's advisors who were part of this agreement is the problem. And they need to own it."

The standoff follows Trump publicly calling out Tillis and Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Truth Social for blocking Blanche's nomination. Trump threatened to withdraw the nomination until both senators leave office next year, as Tillis is retiring and Cornyn lost his primary.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill on July 15, 2026, as part of his confirmation process.

Tillis suggested the best course is to confirm Blanche and resolve the agreement, warning that returning with the same Senate composition next year would not increase support for the nomination.

Sources