Todd Blanche AG nomination may be pulled temporarily, Trump says
Trump said he may pause Todd Blanche’s AG nomination until after GOP senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis leave office next year.
By Jordan Bell · Startups & Deals Reporter
· 2 min read
President Donald Trump said Thursday he is open to temporarily pulling the Todd Blanche AG nomination, CNBC reported, a move that would delay the confirmation fight for the acting attorney general. The potential pause matters because the Justice Department post sits at the center of federal law enforcement, and Senate resistance inside Trump’s own party could slow or reshape the path to confirmation.
Trump floated the idea of withdrawing Blanche’s nomination until after two Republican senators, John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, leave office next year, according to CNBC. The report described Cornyn and Tillis as GOP holdouts on the nomination.
Blanche is currently serving as acting attorney general. CNBC reported that he appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee for a confirmation hearing on July 15, 2026.
What is happening with Todd Blanche's AG nomination?
Trump is considering a temporary withdrawal of Blanche’s nomination for U.S. attorney general, according to CNBC. A temporary withdrawal would mean the White House steps back from the current confirmation push and could revive it later, based on the timing Trump described.
The timing Trump raised is tied to the expected departures of Cornyn and Tillis next year. CNBC did not report additional details on why the two senators are withholding support or what conditions could change their positions.
Blanche’s time as acting attorney general has drawn scrutiny, CNBC reported. The Justice Department has faced attention over its push for Trump’s $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and its handling of the Epstein files, according to the report.
The attorney general leads the Justice Department, giving the role direct influence over federal prosecutions, department priorities and legal positions taken by the U.S. government. For investors, the story is political rather than market-specific, but Justice Department leadership can affect sectors that face federal investigations, enforcement actions or major regulatory cases.
CNBC described the development as breaking news and said updates were expected.
This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.
