President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw his nomination for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, escalating a standoff with Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Trump took to social media Thursday, stating he would temporarily pull Blanche's name if Cornyn and Tillis do not vote in favor of the nomination, suggesting he would resubmit it after they leave office next year.
Blanche, Trump's personal lawyer, faces renewed scrutiny during his Senate confirmation hearing. The hearing, initially scheduled for Thursday morning, was postponed by Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, due to the opposition from Cornyn and Tillis. Without their support, Blanche's nomination would not be able to advance to the Senate floor.
Trump's threat comes as Cornyn and Tillis are demanding explicit, written proposals to modify the settlement agreement reached between the IRS and Trump's family earlier this year. The senators are seeking to permanently eliminate a nearly $2 billion anti-weaponization fund and secure a rewrite of Trump's audit immunity provisions within the settlement.
Trump criticized Cornyn and Tillis, referencing their past votes for other nominees and suggesting their political careers were impacted by his actions. However, Cornyn dismissed Trump's threat, stating on X that concerns about the tax lawsuit settlement's provisions are not limited to him and Tillis.
Should Blanche's nomination stall, Trump could keep him in the role of acting attorney general. This situation is similar to former President Joe Biden's approach with former acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, who held the position from 2023 until the end of his term.
It remains uncertain if Blanche would face a more favorable reception in the Senate next year, as Republicans are projected to have more seats in danger of flipping than Democrats.