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By Gabe Whisnant and Hannah Parry
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Republican Senator Thom Tillis blasted an unidentified personal adviser to President Donald Trump on Friday, for blocking his demand for written assurances that the controversial "Anti-Weaponization Fund" tied to Trump's settlement with the IRS will be permanently terminated.
Trump suggested Thursday that he may even temporarily withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination for attorney general as Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Tillis of North Carolina continue to withhold support until they get said reassurances, signaling a potential setback for one of his highest-profile nominees.
"The President made it clear today that the so-called Anti Weaponization Fund is still alive, which is exactly why we are attempting to formally end it," Tillis wrote on X Friday. "Anyone who attacked law enforcement should still be in prison, not getting a check from the federal government," he added, referring to the January 6 rioters.
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"Senator Cornyn and I have been working with Acting AG Todd Blanche to end the Anti Weaponization Fund, and he has been forthright, thoughtful and patient. It’s a shame his confirmation has hit a snag only because an incompetent personal advisor to the President refuses to amend the bogus settlement," Tillis continued.
It is not yet clear which personal adviser Tillis is referring to.
The opposition by Cornyn and Tillis', both of whom are set to leave office next year, forced the Senate Judiciary Committee to postpone a planned vote Thursday on Blanche's nomination. The two Republicans have said they will not support advancing the nomination until they receive written commitments from Blanche regarding the settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, which included provisions shielding the president and certain family members from future tax audits.
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On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio ramped up the pressure on senators, urging them not to take recess until Blanche had been confirmed.
"Todd Blanche has been an invaluable partner in advancing President Trump’s agenda and as a result of his leadership at the Department of Justice, Americans are safer today," he said in a post on X. "The Senate should not leave for recess without confirming him as Attorney General."
In an updated executive business meeting announcement posted to the Senate Judiciary Committee's website on Friday, there is now a scheduled hearing regarding the nomination of Blanche set for Tuesday.
The U.S. Senate is scheduled to begin its annual summer recess on August 10, and return on September 14, according to the official U.S. Senate Legislative Schedule.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he would have "no objection" to pulling Blanche's name and resubmitting it after the senators leave office. The president added that Blanche would remain in charge of the Department of Justice in an acting capacity, raising fresh questions about the department's long-term leadership if the confirmation fight remains stalled.
The president posted, "Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it! He has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals [sic] of All Time. However, John Cornyn, of Texas, and Thom Tillis, of North Carolina, both of whom I refused to Endorse, and whose political careers have been ended by my action, are refusing to vote for this Great Nominee, who will remain, in any event, as Acting. Remember, both Cornyn and Tillis voted for Merrick Garland, and others, too numerous to mention. 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. President DONALD J. TRUMP"
Following the president's post, Cornyn countered on X, "POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis"
Tillis dismissed Trump's threat and suggested the president was being poorly advised as the standoff over Blanche's nomination continued. Speaking to reporters, the North Carolina Republican said Trump should listen to those who believe the disputed fund should be made "completely dead," rather than leave open the possibility of reviving it in the future. Tillis added that "the president's getting bad advice" from advisers who want to "bring it back to life at some point."
While speaking to the media, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana also said on Thursday, "Todd Blanche cannot give commitments that Cornyn and Tillis want. And by the way, I am very concerned about the weaponization of the Justice Department." When asked if he would back Blanche if the vote were held today, Cassidy said, "I'm not going to answer that because I'm still in the information-gathering stage."
Blanche met with Cornyn and Tillis on Capitol Hill Thursday afternoon but no deal was reached.
Trump Declares Anti-Weaponization Fund 'Dead'
President Trump said Friday that the controversial $1.8 billion 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.”
The president continued to express sympathy for many of those who could have benefited from the fund, including people involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Trump said their families had been “ruined” and that many attended what they believed would be “a rally or an event” before finding themselves facing years of legal and personal consequences.
Trump also said Blanche had become “a pawn in this whole thing,” as the fund has emerged as a key point of contention in Blanche's confirmation battle. The president added that he would also "be upset" after Trump endorsed Cornyn's primary opponent, Ken Paxton.
"I fully understand it. He shouldn't be that way. I shouldn't be that way," the president said Friday.
How Blanche's Confirmation Fight Reached a Breaking Point
After Attorney General Pam Bondi's departure from the Justice Department in April, Trump moved quickly to install her deputy, Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and longtime ally who had represented him in several high-profile legal cases. Blanche was elevated to acting attorney general and later tapped to lead the department permanently, setting up what many Republicans initially expected to be a smooth confirmation process.
That expectation changed after scrutiny intensified around the administration's settlement of Trump's lawsuit against the IRS. The agreement resolved a long-running dispute over the alleged disclosure of Trump's tax information, but some lawmakers raised concerns about provisions included in the deal and the broader precedent it could set.
Questions also emerged about an associated "Anti-Weaponization Fund" established as part of the settlement. Critics argued the arrangement lacked sufficient guardrails, prompting calls for greater transparency about how any remaining funds would be handled and whether the program would continue.
Those concerns eventually centered on Blanche's nomination. Cornyn and Tillis, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said during Blanche's confirmation hearing that they wanted stronger assurances from the nominee before supporting his advancement, turning what had largely been viewed as a procedural confirmation process into a high-profile intraparty dispute.
The standoff came to a head this week as negotiations between Blanche, the senators and committee leaders continued behind the scenes. With the votes not yet secured, the Judiciary Committee delayed a planned confirmation vote, leaving the nomination in limbo and increasing pressure on the White House to find a path forward.
Blanche has also faced scrutiny from some Republicans over the Justice Department's handling of records related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The issue became a flashpoint inside Trump's political coalition after the administration declined to release additional materials that some supporters had expected would become public.
Trump's latest comments suggest he is now weighing alternatives if the impasse persists, including keeping Blanche at the helm of the department in an acting capacity while postponing a full Senate confirmation fight until a later date.
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Midterm Stakes Loom Over GOP Infighting
Delaying Blanche's confirmation until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office could carry risks of its own. Republicans are defending competitive open-seat races in both Texas and North Carolina, and if the party loses its Senate majority in the midterms, Blanche could find himself facing a far more difficult path to confirmation.
In Texas, Trump backed Attorney General Ken Paxton's successful primary challenge against Cornyn, helping drive the incumbent from the race. Paxton now faces Democratic state Representative James Talarico in a contest that has drawn national attention and is viewed as one of the GOP's most vulnerable Senate defenses. Recent polling and fundraising reports have suggested a competitive race, raising concerns among Republicans about holding the seat.
After Trump suggested he would be willing to pull Blanche's nomination and resubmit it next year, Cornyn told reporters the move would not necessarily improve Blanche's confirmation prospects, noting there was no assurance Republicans would have the votes needed to confirm him in January. Asked whether he believed the president's threat was directed at him personally, Cornyn replied: "Oh, yeah."
North Carolina presents a similar challenge. Tillis' retirement created an open-seat race that both parties view as critical to determining Senate control. The contest features former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, the Democratic nominee, and former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, a Trump ally who secured the GOP nomination. With Democrats viewing North Carolina as one of their best pickup opportunities and several forecasters rating the race as highly competitive, Republican leaders are under pressure to avoid intraparty divisions that could complicate their path to retaining the seat.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Sam Wilson, Anna Commander
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