Trump unveils controversial plan to keep Todd Blanche as Attorney General as Republican senators refuse to confirm him

By NATASHA ANDERSON, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 17:37, 1 August 2026 | Updated: 17:55, 1 August 2026 President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial plan to keep Todd Blanche on as Attorney General in a bid to undermine two Republican senators who are refusing to confirm his appointment. Trump delivered an ultimatum to Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn in a Truth Social post Saturday morning, threatening to push forward his 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' if they don't comply with his demand. 'If Senators Cornyn and Tillis, both upset because I wouldn't Endorse them (they lost, and quit, respectively!), 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 AG, and push hard' to restore the fund, Trump wrote. The president insisted, as he previously has, that the fund 'takes care of those who have been so badly treated' during the administrations of Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. 'Todd Blanche was a voice of reason!' he continued. 'It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' The Trump Administration needs Tillis and Cornyn's votes but both lawmakers have protested Blanche's selection because of a lawsuit settlement that created the $1.8 billion fund. The controversial fund also provided Trump and his family members with immunity from tax audits. The president has seemingly made a U-turn on his stance on the fund just one day after he pronounced the fund 'dead.'  President Donald Trump has unveiled a controversial plan to keep Todd Blanche on as Attorney General if two Republican senators refuse to confirm his appointment Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr participate in a cabinet meeting at Camp David in Thurmont, Maryland on Friday Trump delivered an ultimatum to Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn in a Truth Social post Saturday morning, threatening to push forward his 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' if they don't comply with his demand As negotiations continued into the night, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Senator Chuck Grassley rescheduled a committee vote for Blanche that had been postponed earlier in the week. A spokesperson for the committee said Grassley would like to see Blanche confirmed before the August recess and that putting the Tuesday vote on the calendar 'gives more time for the White House to secure the votes for the President's nominee.' But by Saturday morning, those plans were in jeopardy with Trump's announcement, which appeared to put the fund back on the table. Tillis, who is retiring, took note of the president's turnabout by saying in a post on X that despite Trump's comments Friday, he 'clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against.' He added: 'It's unfortunate that Todd Blanche, who I consider qualified for the job, will not be confirmed because of this reversal. Hopefully, we can resolve this by Tuesday.' Blanche said at a hearing two months ago that the anti-weaponization fund would not move forward after Republican senators revolted and held up an immigration funding bill. Senator John Cornyn, Republican from Texas, speaks with Senator Thom Tillis, Republican from North Carolina, on Thursday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Capitol Hill But Tillis and Cornyn, who lost reelection this year after Trump endorsed his primary opponent, said they want to ensure that the White House does not reverse course, especially as Trump continues to argue that a fund is needed. The Justice Department has provided the senators with language that says Blanche's May 18 order establishing the anti-weaponization fund is 'rescinded and shall have no force or effect,' according to documents reviewed by The Associated Press. Cornyn and Tillis have said they also want some clarifications on a separate piece of the settlement that would grant Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits.  Cornyn said this week that it was his understanding that the audits could extend to more than 100 different Trump organization subsidiaries into the future. 'Todd Blanche said it was limited to the parties to the litigation - and it was retrospective, not prospective,' Cornyn said. 'And all we're doing is asking them to put that in writing.' The Daily Mail has approached Cornyn and Tillis' offices for comment. The White House referred us to Trump's Truth Social post.