This morning, shortly after we published our piece on the postponed Senate Judiciary Committee vote on the nomination of Todd Blanche for Attorney General, Donald Trump posted on Truth Social. “Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it!” he wrote. “He has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time.” Trump then noted that Cornyn and Tillis — “both of whom I refused to Endorse, and whose political careers have been ended by my action” — are blocking the confirmation. Those Senators sit on the Judiciary Committee and have been adamant they won’t advance Blanche’s nomination unless he commits in writing that the Anti-Weaponization Fund is dead (something he’s repeatedly said, but won’t write). Trump then floated the idea of temporarily withdrawing Blanche’s nomination entirely and resubmitting it once the two lame duck senators are gone. “I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office.”
Cornyn’s response was immediate and pointed. “POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis,” he posted on X. And then, when asked about the prospect of Trump withdrawing and resubmitting the nomination after the new Congress is seated, said, “Hey, 158 days, they can try it again. Roll the dice on what the Senate confirmation process looks like next year.”
We love to see that Republican on Republican violence. And, let’s be honest, if you look at the polling, it’s not an empty threat.
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The first major Pew poll of the 2026 midterms is not particularly encouraging for Trump’s gamble. Democrats currently hold a 43-37 advantage among registered voters in congressional preference. Democratic voter enthusiasm is up sharply — 39% say they’ve thought “a lot” about the midterms, versus 22% of Republicans, a notable reversal from this point in the 2022 cycle. And perhaps most damning for the White House: 42% of registered voters say they see their congressional vote as a vote against Trump, versus just 22% who see it as a vote for him.
Tillis, for his part, was pointed about where the resistance is actually coming from. “The only reason why we wouldn’t move forward with this language [on the end of the Anti-Weaponizatoin Fund] is because that same adviser wants to bring it back to life at some point,” he said, meaning someone at the White House is blocking a deal specifically to preserve the option of reviving the Anti-Weaponization Fund. Which is really, the only available inference.
But if Trump’s play is to wait out the lame ducks and resubmit in January where the new Judiciary Committee chair could well be Senator Sheldon Whitehouse… Well. That’s quite a roll of the dice.
Earlier:
Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Vote Gets Postponed Because He Just Won’t Put His Promises In Writing
Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Has Hit A Self-Inflicted Stumbling Block
Todd Blanche’s Confirmation Strategy: Call Two Senate Judiciary Committee Members Liars
A Former DOJ Lawyer Testified Against Todd Blanche. Then The Death Threats Started.
Paging Dr. Freud: Todd Blanche Calls Himself Trump’s Lawyer At His Attorney General Confirmation Hearing
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Bluesky @Kathryn1