President Donald Trump on Thursday proposed the idea of temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general to circumvent opposition from Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina). Trump suggested he might keep Blanche as acting attorney general for the next five months and then resubmit the nomination after Cornyn and Tillis leave Congress in early January 2027.

In a Truth Social post, Trump called Blanche a “STAR” with the potential to be one of the "Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time," but criticized Cornyn and Tillis for refusing to endorse Blanche and blocking his confirmation. Trump also noted that both senators’ political careers have been affected by his actions, with Tillis announcing his retirement last year and Cornyn losing his GOP primary to a Trump-backed challenger.

Tillis acknowledged that Trump is "perfectly entitled" to hold Blanche’s nomination until after he leaves the Senate but warned that the strategy could backfire if Senate Republicans lose seats or their majority. He emphasized the need to consider the Senate composition in the next Congress and noted that some senators are willing to confirm Blanche now if concerns about a proposed $1.8 billion anti-weaponization legal compensation fund are addressed.

The nomination process has been stalled after Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) postponed a scheduled vote. Cornyn and Tillis threatened to block the nominee or not attend the meeting due to unresolved issues with the Trump administration regarding the terms of Trump’s settlement with the Department of Justice and IRS. Tillis expressed concerns that someone at the White House is resisting efforts to clarify the settlement to ensure the $1.8 billion fund is not revived in the future.

Sources