Trump threatens to bypass Senate on Blanche nomination

The confirmation process has stalled on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham has left Republicans without a guaranteed majority. Sens. Thom Tillis and John Cornyn have refused to advance Blanche, citing the so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" included in a settlement between the Trump family and the Internal Revenue Service. While a panel vote is set for Tuesday, no compromise has emerged.

Trump intensified the friction by vowing to resurrect the fund through legislation if Congress fails to confirm his former personal lawyer. He dismissed the opposition from Tillis and Cornyn as personal retaliation for his lack of political endorsement. The president defended the payout scheme as necessary compensation for those he claims were victimized by the previous administration, including individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Tillis, who is retiring, rejected the president's framing, arguing that the fund would effectively pay individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers. Despite Blanche’s personal standing with some lawmakers, the nominee faces mounting pressure from Democrats and advocacy groups who argue his history as Trump’s legal fixer renders him unfit for the role. With the administration appealing a recent court ruling that voided the fund, the impasse between the White House and Senate Republicans appears set to continue.