Todd Blanche was confirmed as the United States Attorney General by a narrow Senate vote of 50 to 49 early on Saturday morning, August 8, 2026. Only two Republican senators, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, joined all Senate Democrats in opposing the nomination.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned the confirmation, stating that Senate Republicans have "handed Trump an excuse on a silver platter" to continue what he described as "pervasive, breathtaking misconduct." Schumer argued that having the president's personal attorney serve as attorney general undermines efforts to address corruption, writing on X, "You don’t need a PhD in political science to know that."

In a radio interview, Schumer emphasized the distinction between an attorney general who once served as President Trump's personal attorney and one who is now the president's personal attorney in the role of attorney general, saying, "I think there’s a big difference between the two."

During Blanche's tenure as deputy and acting attorney general, the department indicted former FBI Director James Comey twice, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and the non-profit Southern Poverty Law Center, cases which experts have described as thin.

Schumer also stated that Senate Democrats will continue to resist what they see as the Trump administration’s "assault on the rule of law and undermining of democratic values."

Additionally, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, President Trump, and Senate conservatives agreed to postpone a vote on a budget resolution and defer action on a significant portion of the SAVE America Act until after the Senate recess.

Sources