RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. President Donald Trump threatened Friday to revive the contested "Anti-Weaponization" fund at the center of Todd Blanche's stalled attorney general nomination, escalating a public standoff with two Republican senators who have refused to advance his nominee.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said that if Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina "aren't going to approve Todd Blanche" to serve as attorney general, he would "keep Todd as Acting A.G." while pushing "hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill…PASSED."
The comments mark Trump's strongest warning yet in the confirmation battle. Earlier this week, the president threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination altogether if Cornyn and Tillis continued to block it. Friday's post went further by linking the nomination fight to his pledge to revive legislation that would restore the disputed fund.
Trump also criticized the senators personally, writing they were "upset because I wouldn't Endorse them," referring to Cornyn's unsuccessful reelection bid and Tillis' decision not to seek another Senate term.
Newsweek contacted the White House , and Sens Cornyn and Tillis via online form Saturday for comment.
As reported by Newsweek, Trump said Friday that the Anti-Weaponization Fund was effectively finished, despite defending it on social media earlier in the day.
"It's dead," Trump told reporters at the Camp David cabinet meeting. "But I wish it weren't, to be honest with you."
At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Blanche had also said the fund was "dead," adding: "The settlement fund is just not moving forward. There's no modification. It never started. No money went from the Treasury to any other account."
However, in his latest Truth Social post, Trump said the Anti-Weaponization Bill would be "immediately…back on the table" if Cornyn and Tillis continued opposing Blanche's confirmation.
The president argued the legislation would "take care of those who have been so badly treated" by the Biden administration, while describing Blanche as "a voice of reason."
The proposal is intended to restore the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which has become the central point of disagreement between the White House and the two Republican senators.
Trump's latest remarks suggest he is prepared not only to keep Blanche in the acting attorney general role but also to use the stalled nomination as leverage to push Congress to approve the legislation.
Blanche, who represented Trump in his New York hush money trial and in federal criminal cases before joining the administration, has served as acting attorney general since the departure of former Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Cornyn and Tillis' objections have centered on the roughly $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund.
Blanche's nomination has stalled after the senators demanded written assurances that the Justice Department would not restore or use the fund, which stems from a legal settlement and is intended to compensate people whom Trump and his allies say were unfairly targeted by politically motivated investigations during the Biden administration.
The senators, however, have raised concerns about how the money could be administered and have said they want stronger safeguards before supporting Blanche's confirmation.
Trump has repeatedly rejected those demands, arguing Republicans should unite behind his nominee instead of delaying the confirmation process.
The Anti-Weaponization fund was temporarily blocked by a federal judge in May while she considered whether to grant longer-term relief to those challenging the fund, including two plaintiffs represented by Democracy Forward.
Friday's post builds on Trump's warning earlier this week that he could withdraw Blanche's nomination and resubmit it after Cornyn and Tillis were no longer in the Senate if they continued withholding their support.
Instead of repeating that threat, Trump suggested Blanche could remain acting attorney general indefinitely while Congress considers the Anti-Weaponization Bill.
The dispute has exposed rare divisions between Trump and members of his own party over one of the most important nominations of his second administration.
Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman said that Trump was in a weak position to win the dispute any time soon.
"I don’t see him (Blanche) being confirmed at least certainly through the end of the year, honestly," Fetterman told CNN’s Kasie Hunt on Friday. "Trump has zero leverage."
The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to consider Blanche's nomination next week, although it remains unclear whether Cornyn and Tillis will drop their objections.
With Democrats expected to oppose Blanche, Republican unity will likely be essential if his nomination is to advance to a full Senate confirmation vote.
If confirmed, Blanche would formally become attorney general after serving for months in an acting capacity while leading the Justice Department.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Trevor Davies .
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