Trump Faces Backlash Over Todd Blanche and Senate Disputes

WHO:

CNN - Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has expressed broader complaints about Trump using the DOJ to target his foes.

Fox News - Columnist Mark Davis criticized Senators Cornyn and Tillis for blocking Blanche's confirmation.

CNN - Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has lodged broader complaints about Trump using the DOJ to target his foes.

Fox News - Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, criticized Senators Cornyn and Tillis for blocking Blanche's confirmation.

CNN - Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has lodged broader complaints about Trump using the DOJ to target his foes.

Fox News - Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, criticized Senators Cornyn and Tillis for blocking Blanche's confirmation.

CNN - Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has expressed broader complaints about Trump using the DOJ to target his foes.

Fox News - Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, criticized Senators Cornyn and Tillis for blocking Blanche's confirmation.

Fox News - Columnist Mark Davis recalled that both Cornyn and Tillis voted to confirm Merrick Garland.

CNN - Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has expressed broader complaints about Trump using the DOJ to target his foes.

CNN - Senator John Cornyn of Texas has lost his primary runoff after Trump backed his opponent.

CNN - Ed Kilgore, New York Magazine columnist

Fox News - Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project

Fox News - Mark Davis, columnist

Fox News - Matthew Boyle, Breitbart columnist

CNN - President Donald Trump

CNN - Todd Blanche, nominee for attorney general

CNN - Senators Thom Tillis (North Carolina) and John Cornyn (Texas)

Fox News - Merrick Garland, former Attorney General

Fox News - Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project

Fox News - Mark Davis, columnist

Fox News - Julie Kelly, commentator

Fox News - Matthew Boyle, Breitbart columnist

Fox News - Senator Bill Cassidy (Louisiana)

WHAT:

Fox News - Trump stated, "Todd Blanche is a STAR, and everyone knows it! He has the potential to go down as one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time."

NBC News - The case regarding Trump's $10 billion IRS suit is central to negotiations between two Republican senators and the Justice Department over Todd Blanche’s nomination.

CNN - Trump stated, “I will always feel that these victims of government abuse should be paid back for what they were forced to endure, their lives have been ruined!” regarding the “anti-weaponization” fund.

Fox News - Trump threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027.

CNN - Trump is demanding that Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancel the August recess to push the “SAVE America Act.”

CNN - The “SAVE America Act” aims to overhaul U.S. elections by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.

CNN - Trump stated, “I wish it weren’t” regarding the “anti-weaponization” fund being “dead.”

Fox News - Cornyn has called Blanche “about as good as we’re going to get” as an attorney general pick but insists on written assurances regarding the fund and tax immunity.

Fox News - Tillis warned Blanche not to repeat the “mistakes that the Biden administration did” if confirmed.

CNN - A judge described the settlement related to the “anti-weaponization” fund as a “transparent and bad-faith effort to manipulate the judicial process.”

Fox News - Trump threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027.

CNN - Trump is demanding that Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancel the August recess to push the “SAVE America Act.”

CNN - The “SAVE America Act” aims to overhaul U.S. elections by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.

CNN - A judge described the settlement related to the “anti-weaponization” fund as a “transparent and bad-faith effort to manipulate the judicial process.”

Fox News - Trump threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027.

CNN - Trump admitted at a Cabinet meeting that the “anti-weaponization” fund is “dead” but expressed a wish that it weren’t.

Fox News - Trump threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027.

Fox News - Cornyn has called Blanche “about as good as we’re going to get” as an attorney general pick but insists on written assurances regarding the fund and tax immunity.

Fox News - Tillis warned Blanche not to repeat the “mistakes that the Biden administration did” if confirmed.

CNN - Trump is demanding that Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancel the August recess to push the “SAVE America Act.”

CNN - The “SAVE America Act” aims to overhaul U.S. elections by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.

Fox News - Trump threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027.

Fox News - A judge described the settlement related to the “anti-weaponization” fund as a “transparent and bad-faith effort to manipulate the judicial process.”

CNN - Trump is insisting that the Senate pass the “SAVE America Act.”

CNN - Trump nominated Todd Blanche for the full attorney general position.

CNN - The “anti-weaponization” fund created by a settlement is valued at $1.776 billion.

CNN - Blanche stated that the “anti-weaponization” fund was “dead.”

Fox News - Cornyn and Tillis are blocking Blanche's confirmation.

Fox News - Trump threatened to withdraw Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave office.

Fox News - Trump described Todd Blanche as a "STAR" and a potential "one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time."

WHERE:

CNN - Senate Judiciary Committee, Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

Fox News - Texas and North Carolina (states of Senators Cornyn and Tillis)

WHEN:

Fox News - Cornyn and Tillis are set to leave the Senate in January 2027.

Fox News - Thom Tillis announced he would not run for a third term in the Senate in 2026.

Fox News - Cornyn and Tillis are set to leave the Senate in January 2027.

Fox News - Thom Tillis announced he would not run for a third term in the Senate in 2026.

WHY:

CNN - Concerns over the provisions in Trump's tax lawsuit settlement are causing a rift among Senate Republicans, with Cornyn and Tillis demanding explicit commitments from the administration.

Fox News - Critics argue that blocking Blanche's confirmation is hypocritical since Cornyn and Tillis previously supported Garland, who oversaw actions perceived as politically motivated against Trump.

CNN - Concerns over the provisions in Trump's tax lawsuit settlement are causing a rift among Senate Republicans, with Cornyn and Tillis demanding explicit commitments from the administration.

CNN - Concerns over the provisions in Trump's tax lawsuit settlement are causing a rift among Senate Republicans.

Fox News - Critics argue that blocking Blanche's confirmation is hypocritical since Cornyn and Tillis previously supported Garland.

CNN - Trump's insistence on the “SAVE America Act” and Blanche's nomination is seen as detrimental to the GOP ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

CNN - Concerns over the “anti-weaponization” fund and tax immunity are causing a rift among Senate Republicans.

Fox News - Critics argue that blocking Blanche's confirmation is hypocritical since Cornyn and Tillis previously supported Garland.

HOW:

Fox News - Trump threatened to keep Todd Blanche as acting attorney general if the Senate does not confirm his nomination.

CNN - Trump suggested delaying Blanche’s nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate.

Fox News - Trump is using social media to express his support for Blanche and criticize the two senators.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 17:15 UTC)

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has voiced concerns about Trump allegedly using the Department of Justice to target his opponents, while Trump has praised Todd Blanche, calling him a "STAR" with the potential to be one of the greatest attorneys general ever. The ongoing negotiations between two Republican senators and the Justice Department over Blanche's nomination are complicated by Trump's $10 billion IRS lawsuit, which has raised concerns among Senate Republicans. In a bold move, Trump has threatened to keep Blanche as acting attorney general if the Senate fails to confirm his nomination.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 14:23 UTC)

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has raised concerns about Trump allegedly using the Department of Justice to target his opponents, while Trump has expressed strong feelings about compensating victims of government abuse and threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Senators Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027. Additionally, Trump is urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the August recess to advance the “SAVE America Act,” which seeks to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Tensions are rising among Senate Republicans as Cornyn and Tillis demand clear commitments regarding provisions in Trump's tax lawsuit settlement, despite their past support for actions perceived as politically motivated against Trump.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 13:21 UTC)

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has raised concerns about Trump allegedly using the Department of Justice to target his opponents, while Mike Howell, president of the Oversight Project, criticized Senators Cornyn and Tillis for blocking the confirmation of Blanche. Trump expressed his disappointment over the “anti-weaponization” fund being “dead” and suggested delaying Blanche’s nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis leave the Senate, as they demand written assurances regarding the fund and tax immunity. Tensions are escalating among Senate Republicans, with Cornyn and Tillis facing criticism for their stance on Blanche's confirmation, especially since they previously supported Garland, who was involved in actions seen as politically motivated against Trump.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 11:21 UTC)

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has voiced concerns about Trump using the Department of Justice to target his opponents, while Trump himself has threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until Senators Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027. Trump is also pushing for Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the August recess to advance the “SAVE America Act,” which seeks to overhaul U.S. elections by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Meanwhile, a judge has criticized the settlement related to the “anti-weaponization” fund as a “transparent and bad-faith effort to manipulate the judicial process,” highlighting the growing tensions among Senate Republicans regarding Trump's tax lawsuit settlement.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 02:50 UTC)

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana has voiced concerns about Trump using the Department of Justice to target his opponents, while Senator John Cornyn of Texas recently lost his primary runoff after Trump endorsed his challenger. In response to the “anti-weaponization” fund, Trump stated that victims of government abuse should be compensated for their suffering, but a judge criticized the settlement as a “transparent and bad-faith effort to manipulate the judicial process.” Additionally, Trump has threatened to postpone Todd Blanche's nomination until after Cornyn and Tillis exit the Senate in January 2027, amid growing tensions among Senate Republicans regarding the provisions in Trump's tax lawsuit settlement.

(UPDATED August 1, 2026 01:28 UTC)

Trump expressed strong feelings about the victims of government abuse, stating they deserve compensation for their ruined lives, while also admitting that the “anti-weaponization” fund is effectively “dead.” He threatened to withdraw Todd Blanche's nomination until after Senators Cornyn and Tillis leave office in January 2027, as both senators demand written assurances regarding the fund and tax immunity. This situation has created a rift among Senate Republicans, with critics pointing out the hypocrisy of blocking Blanche's confirmation given their previous support for Garland, who oversaw actions seen as politically motivated against Trump.

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 20:23 UTC)

Trump is calling on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the August recess in order to advance the “SAVE America Act,” which seeks to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration. Meanwhile, he has threatened to delay Todd Blanche's nomination until after Senators Cornyn and Tillis depart in January 2027, a move that has sparked criticism for its perceived hypocrisy given their past support for Garland. Additionally, a judge has characterized a settlement related to the “anti-weaponization” fund as a “transparent and bad-faith effort to manipulate the judicial process.”

(UPDATED July 31, 2026 17:26 UTC)

President Trump is pushing for the Senate to pass the "SAVE America Act" while nominating Todd Blanche for the attorney general position, whom he has called a potential "one of the Greatest Attorney Generals of All Time." However, Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn are blocking Blanche's confirmation, leading Trump to threaten to withdraw the nomination until after they leave office in January 2027. The situation is causing a rift among Senate Republicans, particularly concerning the "anti-weaponization" fund, which has sparked criticism given that Cornyn and Tillis previously supported Merrick Garland.