President Trump escalated his battle with Senate Republicans over the stalled confirmation of Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, threatening on Saturday to keep Blanche in his temporary role and revive a controversial $1.776 billion compensation fund if the nomination remains blocked.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump directly criticized Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), who have withheld their support for Blanche, claiming their opposition stems from his refusal to endorse their recent political campaigns. Cornyn lost his primary in May to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Trump-backed candidate, while Tillis opted not to seek another term.
"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., and push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill," Trump wrote. He added that the bill, which would compensate individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by the federal government, "will immediately be back on the table."
The president's threat directly contradicts assurances from Blanche and the Justice Department that the fund, part of a $10 billion settlement with the IRS, is being dissolved. Tillis responded sharply on X, saying, "Despite comments as late as yesterday that the fund is dead, President Trump clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against."
Tillis, who said he considers Blanche qualified, warned that the reversal could doom the nomination. "It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal. Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday," he wrote.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), postponed a scheduled vote on Blanche's nomination last week and has rescheduled it for the coming week. Both Cornyn and Tillis have demanded written assurances that the compensation fund is "dead" before they will support Blanche.
Earlier this week, Trump suggested he might withdraw Blanche's nomination and resubmit it after the two senators leave office next year. Blanche, who served as Trump's personal lawyer, took over the Justice Department in April after Trump ousted Pam Bondi. His tenure has been dominated by the release of files related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the so-called anti-weaponization fund.
The IRS settlement has also drawn scrutiny after a federal judge ruled that Trump colluded with his own administration to secure the deal and block public access to his past tax returns. Trump is appealing that ruling.
Senate Republicans are divided over how to handle Blanche's nomination, with some wary of the fund's revival and others backing Trump's push. Some GOP defections have already signaled trouble for the administration's agenda. Meanwhile, Trump has framed Cornyn's block as payback for his primary loss, a narrative that could further inflame tensions within the party.
The standoff comes as Trump faces broader political headwinds, including falling approval ratings amid international crises and domestic controversies. The fight over Blanche's confirmation is likely to test Trump's influence over Senate Republicans and the limits of his willingness to use controversial measures to achieve his goals.
