Republican Issues Warning To Trump
A growing dispute inside the Republican Party over Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general has prompted one GOP senator to warn President Donald Trump against delaying the confirmation battle until next year.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cautioned Thursday that waiting until 2027 to seek Senate confirmation for Blanche could create even greater political obstacles if Republicans lose seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
His warning comes as Blanche’s nomination remains stalled, exposing divisions among Senate Republicans over a controversial Justice Department settlement tied to President Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
Trump Floats Delaying the Confirmation Fight
President Trump suggested Thursday that he may temporarily withdraw Blanche’s nomination and submit it again after two Republican senators leave office in January.
The proposal would allow Trump to bypass Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who have refused to support Blanche’s nomination unless significant changes are made to the settlement agreement.
Cornyn recently lost the Republican primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, while Tillis has announced he will not seek another term, meaning neither senator is expected to return to the Senate next year.
Kennedy Warns Senate Could Look Very Different
Kennedy urged caution, noting that relying on the outcome of the midterm elections carries substantial political risk.
Republicans currently hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate, but that advantage could shrink depending on the outcome of several competitive races.
If Democrats gain seats in November, confirming Blanche next year could become considerably more difficult than reaching an agreement now.
The Dispute Centers on the Anti-Weaponization Fund
The primary obstacle remains a proposed $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, created through a Justice Department settlement involving Trump’s IRS lawsuit.
Cornyn has demanded written assurances that the fund will never be reinstated under any future administration.
He has also called for revisions to language involving audit protections connected to the settlement before agreeing to move Blanche’s nomination forward.
Because negotiations failed to produce a compromise, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) postponed Thursday’s scheduled confirmation vote.
New Polls Raise Questions About GOP Senate Outlook
Kennedy’s concerns come as new polling suggests Republicans could face competitive Senate races in key states.
A recent Fox News survey found Democratic state Rep. James Talarico leading Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton by a narrow 51% to 48% margin in Texas.
Another Fox News poll showed former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper holding a 53% to 44% advantage over former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley in the race to replace Tillis.
Both polls were conducted between July 23 and July 27 among roughly 1,000 registered voters in each state and reported a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points.
While polling this far before Election Day often changes, the results underscore why some Senate Republicans believe delaying Blanche’s confirmation could become a gamble.
Tillis Urges Trump to Reach an Agreement
Rather than postponing the confirmation fight, Tillis encouraged President Trump to negotiate directly with Cornyn.
According to Tillis, permanently eliminating the disputed fund now would likely be a safer path than hoping the Republican Senate majority remains intact after the midterm elections.
The disagreement highlights the broader challenge Republicans face in balancing internal concerns while advancing President Trump’s agenda.
Trump Renews Criticism of Cornyn
President Trump escalated the dispute Friday by criticizing Cornyn on Truth Social.
Trump argued that Cornyn only changed his position on the settlement after Trump endorsed Ken Paxton during the Texas Republican primary, accusing the senator of reversing course for political reasons.
The public disagreement has added another layer of uncertainty to Blanche’s confirmation process.
Todd Blanche Continues Serving as Acting Attorney General
Despite the Senate impasse, Todd Blanche remains in his role as acting attorney general while lawmakers continue negotiations behind closed doors.
There is currently no timetable for when the Senate Judiciary Committee will reconsider his nomination.
Why This Matters
Todd Blanche’s confirmation has become more than a routine personnel vote. The standoff reflects broader disagreements within the Republican conference over how to handle the Justice Department settlement and Trump’s legal priorities.
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, Senate Republicans must decide whether to resolve the dispute now or risk facing a potentially more challenging confirmation battle under a different Senate makeup. The outcome could shape not only Blanche’s future but also the Trump administration’s ability to advance key Justice Department priorities during the remainder of the president’s term.
