Trump Says He May 'Temporarily' Drop Blanche AG Nomination as IRS Settlement Standoff Continues

Senate Republicans postponed Todd Blanche's attorney general confirmation vote after concerns over a $1.8 billion IRS settlement fund.

President Trump has said he may 'temporarily' drop his bid to make Todd Blanche the U.S. Attorney General, as the nomination faces serious jeopardy following a Senate committee vote postponement. Republican senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis have withheld support, demanding written assurances that an IRS-related $1.8 billion settlement fund — which Cornyn has called a 'slush fund' — has been eliminated. Cornyn stated he will not back Blanche without written confirmation the fund is dead. Trump reportedly held firm and did not provide the written limits senators sought, even at the risk of losing his attorney general pick. Blanche, Trump's former personal lawyer, was nominated to lead the Justice Department. A spokesperson acknowledged that 'work continues to secure sufficient support' for the nomination, indicating active lobbying of Republican holdouts. However, with Trump himself now publicly floating the possibility of temporarily withdrawing the nomination, the prospects for Blanche's confirmation appear increasingly uncertain.

Why it matters

The attorney general leads the entire U.S. Justice Department, making the confirmation consequential for federal law enforcement priorities. Republican resistance within the Senate committee means Trump's chosen nominee faces an uncertain path even within his own party.

What's next

The committee is expected to reschedule the vote once Blanche's backers determine they have secured sufficient Republican support.

Key facts

• The Senate committee vote on Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination was postponed due to insufficient Republican support.
• Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) said he will not back Blanche without written confirmation that a $1.8 billion IRS settlement fund is eliminated.
• Cornyn referred to the disputed fund as a '$1.8 billion slush fund.'
• A spokesperson for the nomination said 'work continues to secure sufficient support' for Blanche.
• Blanche is President Trump's nominee to serve as U.S. Attorney General.
• The delay indicates Blanche currently lacks the votes needed to advance out of committee.

Bias & framing notes

Both sources are from The Guardian and share a broadly similar framing, emphasizing jeopardy and Republican opposition. Neither source provides Blanche's own response or the White House's detailed defense of the nomination beyond a brief spokesperson quote, meaning the reporting is weighted toward the challenge rather than the proponent's case. The description of the fund as a 'slush fund' is attributed to Cornyn but appears in headlines and framing without significant pushback or alternative characterization.

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