President Donald Trump is playing hardball with Republican senators over his pick for attorney general. If they won't confirm Todd Blanche, he says he'll just keep Blanche in the job on an acting basis and push Congress to pass an "Anti-Weaponization Bill" that many in the GOP would rather see buried.
On Saturday, Trump took to Truth Social to call out two Republican senators by name: John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. According to Trump, they're opposing Blanche because he wouldn't endorse them in their own races.
"If Senators Cornyn and Tillis … 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.," he wrote.
And that's not all. Trump also said he'd revive legislation aimed at what he calls government "weaponization" under the Biden administration. "I will get the Anti-Weaponization Bill … PASSED," he declared, adding that the proposal would help people who were "so badly treated" by the Biden and Obama administrations.
Tillis Fires Back
Tillis didn't take the threat lying down. He responded on X, criticizing Trump for tying Blanche's confirmation to the fund. His words were sharp: "Despite comments as late as yesterday that the fund is dead, President Trump clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks."
Tillis acknowledged that Blanche is qualified for the job but argued the fund controversy has made confirmation impossible. "It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal," he wrote. He added, "Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday."
The Fund That Won't Die
At the heart of the standoff is a proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization fund." The idea is to compensate people who claim they were unfairly targeted by the government. Trump defended the plan, saying he believes those people were treated unjustly.
Officials had previously said the plan was dead, but Trump seemed to keep it alive. "It is dead, but you know, I wish it weren't," he said, which only fueled concerns among Republican senators who are blocking Blanche's nomination.
Tillis seized on those comments, arguing they prove the fund is still very much on the table. "The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti-Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," he said.
Treasury Official Resigns
The controversy has already claimed a casualty. Treasury Department General Counsel Brian Morrissey resigned after the administration announced the $1.8 billion fund. The Treasury said Morrissey served "with both honor and integrity."
So where does this leave Blanche? The Senate is expected to vote on his nomination soon, possibly as early as Tuesday. Tillis seems to think the outcome is already decided, but Trump's threats suggest this fight is far from over.
For now, the ball is in the Senate's court. Confirm Blanche, and Trump might let the fund die. Reject him, and he's promised to keep Blanche in place and push the bill anyway. Either way, it looks like the "Anti-Weaponization" saga is not going away quietly.
