Tillis says Blanche won't be confirmed as AG amid Trump fund fight

Sen. Thom Tillis said Saturday morning that new comments by President Trump about his “anti-weaponization” fund mean attorney general nominee Todd Blanche won't be confirmed by the Senate next week. The North Carolina Republican's remark escalates the fight between the White House and holdout Senate Republicans over whether the fund — created for people Trump considers victims of political persecution — is dead or alive.

Why the nomination is in jeopardy

In a post on X, Tillis said that despite comments as recent as Friday suggesting the fund was dead, Trump clearly intends to resurrect the payout pool either by establishing another fund or pushing Congress to vote on a bill that most Senate Republicans would oppose. Tillis called Blanche qualified for the job but said he would not be confirmed because of this reversal, adding that he hopes the situation can be resolved by Tuesday.

The 'anti-weaponization' fund explained

The fund has become a red line for Tillis and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). Both lawmakers sit on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and at least one of their votes is needed to advance Blanche's nomination to a full Senate confirmation vote. They have refused to support Blanche until the Justice Department puts in writing that certain aspects of the fund deal are not moving forward.

Trump's response on Truth Social

Earlier Saturday, Trump posted on Truth Social that if Tillis and Cornyn were not going to vote for Blanche, he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general and revive a bill to establish the fund. Trump said Blanche was a voice of reason and that the fund would immediately be back on the table, vowing to get it done.

Recent back-and-forth

The president on Thursday floated withdrawing Blanche's name and keeping him in an acting capacity until Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate in January. But on Friday, Trump said Blanche should be "immediately approved," a call echoed by members of his administration. Tillis's Saturday comments suggest the whiplash has undermined confidence in the nomination's path forward.

What's at stake

The clash is part of a broader battle over Trump's influence on Senate Republicans. With Judiciary Committee votes hanging in the balance, the outcome could test the limits of presidential pressure on Capitol Hill. If Blanche is not confirmed, it would be a significant setback for Trump's second-term agenda, potentially forcing him to rely on an acting appointee and deepening the rift between the White House and key GOP senators. The standoff shows no clear resolution as Tuesday's expected vote approaches.