Trump Nominates Todd Blanche as Attorney General, Facing Senate Confirmation Battle
President Trump formally nominated acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice on Monday, sending the nomination to the Senate. Blanche, Trump's former personal criminal defense attorney, has served as acting AG since Trump fired Pam Bondi in April 2026 and has overseen a series of controversial actions including the now-abandoned $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' and indictments against Trump's perceived political enemies. The confirmation battle is uncertain, with several Republican senators — including Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Bill Cassidy, and Lisa Murkowski — expressing reservations that could deadlock or sink the nomination.
President Trump on Monday sent Todd Blanche's nomination as attorney general to the Senate, seeking to permanently install his former personal defense lawyer at the head of the Justice Department. Blanche has served as acting AG since Trump ousted Pam Bondi on April 2, 2026, reportedly frustrated by her pace in pursuing his political opponents. During his tenure, Blanche oversaw the vacating of seditious conspiracy convictions against Proud Boys members, indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and the Southern Poverty Law Center that legal experts have widely criticized as legally deficient, and a controversial settlement of Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that included a separate order granting Trump, his family, and related entities immunity from future IRS audits and examinations. Blanche also announced a $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' to compensate alleged victims of government overreach, which drew bipartisan backlash — particularly over concerns that convicted January 6 rioters could receive payments — and was subsequently abandoned after a federal judge temporarily blocked it and Senate Republicans revolted. The Senate Judiciary Committee, where the 12-10 Republican majority means a single GOP defection could deadlock the panel, will be the first hurdle; key swing votes include retiring senators Tillis, Cassidy, and Cornyn, as well as moderates Collins and Murkowski, none of whom have committed to supporting Blanche. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley called Blanche 'well-qualified,' while Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged that 'nothing is a safe or sure bet' regarding confirmation.
What's missing
The legal status of the IRS immunity order (distinct from the abandoned anti-weaponization fund) and whether it can be challenged or reversed by a future administration or court has not been fully addressed across the sources.
How coverage differed
Left-leaning outlets (The Guardian, The Nation) and centrist critics framed Blanche's nomination as the culmination of a corrupt transformation of the DOJ into Trump's personal law firm, emphasizing legal experts' condemnations and a pattern of norm-breaking. Right-leaning outlets diverged sharply: Fox News focused primarily on the political mechanics of Senate Republican resistance without endorsing or condemning Blanche's conduct, while The Federalist dismissed criticism of Blanche as media bias and framed his agenda as legitimate accountability for past Democratic abuses — a framing absent from all other sources. Notably, the conservative Washington Examiner broke from typical right-leaning deference to argue the Senate should reject Blanche on rule-of-law grounds.
What different sources said
- The GuardianLeft
Trump nominates his ex-lawyer Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general
- CNBCCenter
Trump nominates Todd Blanche for attorney general amid controversy over DOJ fund
- Fox NewsRight
Trump's DOJ pick in trouble as GOP concerns threaten confirmation
- SemaforCenter
Blanche faces a rocky road to confirmation in the Senate
- The NationFar Left
Trump’s AG Appointee Is a Literal Sock Puppet
- AxiosCenter
Trump to nominate Todd Blanche as attorney general
- CBS NewsCenter
Trump formally nominates Todd Blanche as attorney general
- Roll CallCenter
Blanche heads into attorney general confirmation clash
Trump Nominates Blanche for Attorney General, Setting Up Confirmation Fight
- AlternetCenter
Todd Blanche's deal would bury the largest presidential corruption scheme in US history
- ReasonRight
Some Question for Todd Blanche's Upcoming Confirmation Hearing
- Washington ExaminerRight
Against Todd Blanche for attorney general
- NewsweekCenter
GOP Senators Most Likely to Vote Against Todd Blanche for Attorney General
- The IndependentLeft
Trump’s Todd Blanche for AG nomination is the ultimate ‘shoot a man on Fifth Avenue’ moment for Republicans
- ABC NewsCenter
Trump formally nominates Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general
- The FederalistRight
Todd Blanche At DOJ Should Mean Accountability For The Media’s Russia Hoax And So Much More
Related
Workers Begin Removing Trump's Name from Kennedy Center Facade After Court-Ordered Deadline
Workers started stripping President Trump's name from the exterior of the Kennedy Center in Washington overnight Friday into Saturday, hours past a court-ordered deadline of 11:59 p.m. Friday. The delay was attributed to nearby thunderstorms, and the Kennedy Center's board sought a 12-hour extension, which U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper had already denied after rejecting the board's last-minute attempt to halt the order. The removal marks a significant legal rebuke of the Trump administration's effort to rename the historic performing arts venue, with a court ruling that only Congress has the authority to change the Kennedy Center's name.
Hasan Piker Campaigns for DSA-Backed NYC Candidates, Sparking Debate Over Democratic Party Direction
Twitch streamer Hasan Piker rallied in Brooklyn for two Democratic Socialist of America-endorsed congressional candidates ahead of New York's June 23 primary, declaring the country is 'closer than ever' to socialism. The appearances come amid a broader debate within the Democratic Party over whether to embrace or distance itself from Piker, whose pro-Palestinian views and provocative statements have made him a polarizing figure. The controversy highlights a growing tension between the party's centrist establishment and its increasingly left-leaning base, particularly on foreign policy.
Fire Rescue Victoria Has Missed Emergency Response Targets Every Year Since 2020, With Outer Suburbs Worst Affected
Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) has failed to meet its target of responding to 90 per cent of structural fires within seven minutes and 42 seconds in every year since its formation in 2020, with outer suburban areas recording the worst performance. The shortfall has come into sharp focus following the death of three-year-old Jordan Dashwood in a Werribee house fire this month, where the nearest FRV truck was committed to another incident and the first responders arrived well outside the benchmark time. The findings raise serious questions about whether the 2020 fire services restructure has been adequately resourced to protect Melbourne's rapidly growing outer suburbs.