Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made it his mission to inject a "warrior ethos" into the armed forces, but political observers increasingly argue the real deficit of fortitude lies in the U.S. Senate. The recent confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general showcased what critics call a stunning lack of political courage among three Republican senators who had every reason to oppose him.
Senators Thom Tillis of North Carolina, John Cornyn of Texas, and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana all voted to confirm Blanche, despite his thin resume and the fact that President Trump had actively worked to end their political careers. Their votes have reignited debates about the GOP's subservience to the president.
Blanche, a New York lawyer who spent two decades in relative obscurity, became Trump's personal attorney in 2023. He defended the former president in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, the classified documents prosecution, and efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including the events leading to the January 6 Capitol riot. His loyalty earned him a promotion from deputy attorney general to acting AG after Trump fired Pam Bondi, and in that role, he reportedly orchestrated a $1.8 billion fund for January 6 participants and granted Trump immunity from IRS oversight.
For Tillis, Cornyn, and Cassidy, the vote was personal. Tillis, who had voted against Trump's signature tax bill, was branded a "talker and a complainer" and faced a primary threat. He opted not to seek reelection, leaving a seat Democrats are favored to flip. Cassidy, who voted to convict Trump in his 2021 impeachment trial, was targeted with a primary challenge from Rep. Julia Letlow, who defeated him. Cornyn, once a loyal ally, was labeled a RINO and saw Trump endorse his primary opponent, Ken Paxton, leading to his defeat.
Despite these betrayals, all three caved. Cassidy tearfully explained he feared Trump might nominate someone worse. Cornyn offered the most damning justification, saying, "There is nothing we can do to rein in the president."
Such statements fly in the face of constitutional design. Congress possesses the power to check the executive through legislation, spending, and the confirmation process. As Cassidy's vote cleared the final hurdle for Blanche, critics noted that a simple "no" would have been a powerful rebuke.
The episode has drawn sharp contrasts with Hegseth's focus on military masculinity. As he and other GOP senators quietly resist some Trump initiatives, the Blanche vote suggests that when it comes to the president's picks, the Senate's spine remains missing.
Political analyst Bill Press, writing for The World Signal, called the display "Profiles in Cowardice," a far cry from John F. Kennedy's celebrated "Profiles in Courage." The question now is whether voters will hold these senators accountable for their capitulation.
