President Donald Trump announced Wednesday night that he plans to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Department of Justice, a move that will require Senate confirmation.
Speaking during a dinner event in the White House Rose Garden, Trump told attendees that he would direct his team to begin the formal nomination process on Thursday.
“I wanted to see how he’s received, you know, we put him as acting, and he’s done a very good job, but I’ve known him a long time,” Trump said in a pre-recorded interview with Pod Force One that aired Wednesday.
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino later shared video of Trump’s announcement on social media. Trump said he intended to make Blanche the “permanent attorney general.”
Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, became acting attorney general after Trump removed former Attorney General Pam Bondi from the position in April. Before taking over as acting AG, Blanche served as deputy attorney general.
The longtime Trump ally represented the president during his 2024 New York criminal trial involving allegations that business records were falsified to conceal hush-money payments. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts in that case before winning reelection later that year.
Trump had hinted at the nomination earlier this week. When asked Tuesday whether Blanche would remain attorney general, the president replied, “I think he will.”
The nomination comes as Blanche faces scrutiny over the Justice Department’s controversial $1.8 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which was promoted as a mechanism to compensate individuals whom the administration claimed had been unfairly targeted by government actions.
After weeks of criticism from lawmakers and public controversy, Blanche told Congress on Tuesday that the department was “not moving forward with the fund,” according to ABC News.
The decision followed opposition from several Senate Republicans, some of whom reportedly warned that the proposal could jeopardize support for Trump’s broader legislative agenda and create political liabilities ahead of the midterm elections.
Despite Blanche’s announcement, Trump appeared uncertain about the fund’s future after a federal judge temporarily blocked the initiative.
“I’d have to ask the lawyers. I don’t know,” Trump said when asked whether the plan was permanently dead.
“The weaponization fund, as far as I’m concerned, was a beautiful thing,” he added.
As acting attorney general, Blanche has also drawn attention for overseeing the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey over a social media post featuring seashells that the Justice Department alleged constituted a threat against the president.
Blanche has repeatedly rejected suggestions that he would use the Justice Department to target Trump’s political opponents.
His nomination could face questions in the Senate despite Republicans’ 53-47 majority. While most GOP senators are expected to support Trump’s choice, several Republicans have previously broken with the president on high-profile issues, potentially complicating the confirmation process.
Blanche also made headlines last year when he personally interviewed convicted Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. According to reports, Maxwell told Blanche she had never witnessed Trump engage in illegal conduct during her association with Epstein. Following the interview, the Department of Justice transferred Maxwell to a lower-security federal prison facility.
If confirmed, Blanche would become the permanent head of the Justice Department after serving several months in an acting capacity
