President Donald Trump is not backing down from his fight with two Republican senators over the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, threatening to sideline the nomination entirely after the pair blocked its progress through the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Trump made clear his frustration on Truth Social, targeting Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina directly. He threatened to hold the nomination until after both senators leave office following their 2026 primary losses. “If Senators Cornyn and Tillis, both upset because I wouldn’t Endorse them (they lost, and quit, respectively!), aren’t going to approve Todd Blanche, one of the most respected professionals, according to everybody, in the Country, to be the United States Attorney General, then I will keep Todd as Acting A.G.,” Trump wrote.
Trump also signaled his intention to push forward with a separate legislative priority. “And push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill, which takes care of those who have been so badly treated by the Crooked Joe Biden (and Obuma!) Administration (I get nothing, although I was treated horribly!), PASSED,” he added.
The Anti-Weaponization fund, valued at $1.8 billion, was announced as part of a settlement stemming from Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS. As originally reported, the Justice Department stated it would administer the fund to compensate individuals who claim they were targeted by a weaponized legal system. The fund drew immediate criticism for allegedly benefiting Trump allies and individuals connected to the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021. A federal judge has since blocked it.
Cornyn and Tillis say they want specific changes to the DOJ settlement put in writing before they will support Blanche’s confirmation. Among their demands is the elimination of the Anti-Weaponization fund and a narrowing of language tied to tax protections.
The standoff puts two prominent Republican senators at odds with a president who has made clear he views their opposition as personal and political. Trump has already signaled he will work against both men in their upcoming primaries, framing their resistance as a consequence of his refusal to endorse them. With both senators set to exit after 2026, Trump appears content to wait them out, keeping Blanche in an acting capacity for as long as it takes.