President Trump's former personal attorney, Todd Blanche, was officially sworn in as the 88th attorney general of the United States on Monday afternoon, taking the helm of the Justice Department after a bitterly contested confirmation process.
The ceremony took place in the Oval Office, with a video of the swearing-in posted by Trump aide Margot Martin. Blanche's ascent to the top law enforcement post comes after the Senate confirmed him on Saturday by a razor-thin 50-49 margin, a vote that exposed deep divisions within the Republican conference over his fitness for the role.
Two Republican senators, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, broke ranks and voted against Blanche, citing concerns that he would not act as an independent leader of the Justice Department. Their opposition echoed warnings from critics who have questioned Blanche's close ties to the president, with some legal experts, including former Trump White House counsel Ty Cobb, arguing that Blanche's total fealty to Trump threatens the rule of law.
Additional friction arose over Blanche's decision to greenlight a $1.776 billion fund ostensibly aimed at countering "weaponization" of the Justice Department. Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) had all voiced reservations about the fund, which they saw as a potential vehicle for political interference. However, after Blanche rescinded the fund last week—a move widely interpreted as a concession to secure votes—all three ultimately backed his confirmation.
In a statement posted on X following the vote, Blanche expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by the president and the Senate. "I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence President Trump has placed in me to lead the Department of Justice as our great nation's 88th Attorney General," he wrote. "I am grateful to the Senate for staying late to complete this process."
Blanche's swearing-in marks the second time Trump has installed a new attorney general during his second term, reflecting the administration's ongoing efforts to reshape the Justice Department. The confirmation drama also unfolded against a backdrop of escalating international tensions, including a six-month-old conflict with Iran that has strained U.S. military resources and prompted weapons shortages that limit the president's options.
Critics, including some Democrats, have seized on Blanche's confirmation as evidence of a GOP abdication of constitutional duty, arguing that the Senate's approval of a president's personal lawyer to lead the Justice Department undermines the institution's independence. The White House, meanwhile, has defended Blanche as a qualified and loyal public servant.
Blanche now assumes control of a department that has been at the center of numerous politically charged investigations, and his leadership will be closely scrutinized by both parties. His first days in office are expected to be dominated by decisions on how to handle ongoing probes and whether to continue policies initiated under his predecessor.
