Todd Blanche was sworn in as the US attorney general on Monday, August 10th, 2026, during a ceremony at the White House attended by former President Donald Trump. Blanche, 52, had been serving as acting attorney general since April following the ouster of Pam Bondi, and was confirmed by the Senate in a narrow 50-49 vote over the weekend after a marathon overnight session.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted a video of Blanche's oath-taking in the Oval Office, praising him as "a great lawyer and an even better man!" Trump’s legal defense team member administered the oath.

Blanche’s confirmation faced opposition from all Senate Democrats and Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. A key point of contention was the Justice Department's proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, intended to provide payouts to individuals alleging wrongful treatment by the federal government.

Before his appointment, Blanche served as Trump’s personal criminal defense lawyer, representing him in the New York hush-money case and other matters. He joined the administration as deputy attorney general in early 2025 and took over as acting attorney general after Bondi's departure, who was removed partly due to perceived insufficient action against Trump’s political opponents.

Blanche’s tenure has been marked by significant changes within the Justice Department, including the departure of over 200 prosecutors and agents involved in Trump-related investigations. Critics have raised concerns about the politicization of the department under his leadership.

This appointment cements Donald Trump’s influence over the Justice Department during his second presidential term.

Sources