Trump to Nominate Acting AG Todd Blanche Permanently

President Trump said Wednesday that he will nominate Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer now serving as acting attorney general, to lead the Justice Department on a permanent basis. The announcement came during a private White House dinner, where Trump described the move as a straightforward elevation of someone already proving effective in the role.

Blanche has held the acting position since April, when Trump removed Pam Bondi after concluding she had not moved aggressively enough against the president's perceived opponents. Before that, Blanche served as deputy attorney general, a post the Senate confirmed last year on a party-line vote. His prior work centered on representing Trump in criminal cases, including the New York hush-money prosecution and federal matters that did not reach trial.

Trump indicated the formal nomination would begin Thursday and expressed confidence that Senate confirmation would proceed quickly. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, which provides a clear path if most members remain aligned with the White House. Blanche, 51, would become the first former defense attorney for a sitting president to hold the top Justice Department job in a permanent capacity.

During his brief tenure as acting attorney general, Blanche has overseen several high-profile initiatives aligned with Trump's priorities. These include expanded scrutiny of federal benefit programs and efforts to pursue cases against figures such as former FBI director James Comey. He also advanced a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for individuals who claimed they were targeted by prior administrations, an idea that originated partly from the settlement of Trump's own lawsuit against the IRS.

The fund drew immediate bipartisan criticism, particularly over the possibility of payments to participants in the January 6 Capitol riot. Lawmakers from both parties questioned the use of taxpayer money for such purposes, and a federal judge temporarily blocked elements of the plan. Blanche testified this week that the department would abandon the fund entirely, though he noted that certain protections against IRS audits of Trump's returns would remain in place.

Trump has repeatedly praised Blanche's performance, telling an interviewer earlier in the week that he had wanted to observe how the acting attorney general was received before committing to a permanent choice. The president said no other candidates were under active consideration.

The selection underscores the administration's preference for officials who have demonstrated personal loyalty in legal settings. Blanche's rapid ascent from defense counsel to the department's leadership reflects a pattern in which Trump has placed allies in key enforcement positions. Senate Democrats are expected to raise questions during confirmation hearings about the department's independence and the handling of politically sensitive matters, though the Republican majority makes approval likely.

Blanche can continue serving in an acting capacity for up to 210 days from his elevation in April, giving the White House until late October to complete the confirmation process if delays arise.