Trump to nominate Todd Blanche as US attorney general

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President Donald Trump has formally nominated Todd Blanche, his former personal lawyer and current acting attorney general, to serve as the top US law enforcement officer on a permanent basis, according to the White House. The nomination, announced on Monday, sends Blanche's name to the Senate, where his confirmation is expected to face significant hurdles despite Republican control of the chamber.

Blanche, 51, has served as acting attorney general since April, when Trump fired Pam Bondi amid tensions over the Justice Department's handling of files related to convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and frustration that the department was not moving forcefully enough against the president's perceived political enemies.

Coverage Comparison

The nomination has drawn widespread attention across international media, with outlets focusing on different aspects of Blanche's record and the political dynamics surrounding his confirmation.

Al Jazeera's coverage emphasized the Senate confirmation process, noting that Blanche's nomination "sets him up for what is expected to be a heated Senate confirmation hearing." The outlet reported that Blanche had previously been confirmed as deputy attorney general in a party-line vote of 52 to 46, with all Senate Democrats in opposition.

The BBC focused on Blanche's background as a federal prosecutor and the Justice Department's attempt to create a $1.8 billion compensation fund, which was later scrapped. The outlet reported on Trump's public praise for Blanche, quoting the president saying on the Pod Force One podcast: "He's a very talented guy. Todd's doing a very good job at DOJ."

The Guardian offered a more critical framing, describing the nomination as "the apex of a gamble from a man who bet everything on representing Donald Trump and became one of his most steadfast and punishing enforcers." The outlet detailed Blanche's history, including his resignation from a Wall Street law firm to join Trump's legal team in 2023, and highlighted controversial actions taken under his leadership, including pursuing criminal charges against former FBI director James Comey.

The Jerusalem Post reported on the nomination through the lens of Senate politics, describing it as "a test of Trump's sway over Senate Republicans, who have shown an increasing willingness to resist parts of the president's agenda after months of largely acceding to his demands." The outlet noted that Blanche would need near-unanimous Republican support in the Senate, which Republicans control by a narrow 53-47 margin.

South China Morning Post coverage also highlighted Blanche's "controversial actions" as acting attorney general, including the unveiling of charges against Comey and the removal of press releases about prosecutions of January 6 rioters. The outlet described Blanche as a "loyal ally" whose actions "ensure an uphill Senate confirmation fight."

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reported the formal nomination without extensive analysis, noting that Blanche's candidacy had been sent to the Senate and would require support from the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full upper house.

The Hindu reported on the nomination with a focus on Blanche's loyalty to Trump, noting that he had "pursued indictments for Mr. Trump's perceived enemies, including former FBI director James Comey." The outlet also provided details on the scrapped $1.8 billion fund, quoting Blanche's testimony to Congress: "We're not moving forward with the fund, period."

Key Claims

• Formal Nomination: President Trump formally nominated Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general on a permanent basis. The nomination was sent to the Senate, as confirmed by the White House and reported by multiple outlets, including Al Jazeera, TASS, and the Jerusalem Post.

• Background as Federal Prosecutor: Blanche began his career as a paralegal in the US attorney's office for the southern district of New York and later became a prosecutor. He joined Trump's legal team in March 2023, shortly after Trump was indicted in a New York state case involving hush-money payments. Blanche resigned from a partnership at a Wall Street law firm to represent Trump. This was reported by The Guardian and corroborated by other outlets.

• Acting Role Since April: Blanche became acting attorney general after Trump fired Pam Bondi in April, following tensions over the release of Epstein files and frustration with the pace of prosecutions of Trump's political enemies. The Hindu and BBC reported this sequence.

• Controversial Actions as Acting AG: Under Blanche, the Justice Department pursued criminal charges against former FBI director James Comey, escalated an investigation into former CIA director John Brennan, and removed press releases about prosecutions of January 6 rioters. The Guardian and South China Morning Post reported these actions.

• Scrapped $1.8 Billion Fund: The Justice Department attempted to create a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponisation" fund to compensate victims of alleged government overreach. The plan drew fierce bipartisan backlash, with Republican senators refusing to fund Trump's immigration crackdown until Blanche committed to scrapping it. Blanche confirmed the fund's cancellation during testimony to lawmakers. This was reported by BBC, Jerusalem Post, South China Morning Post, and The Hindu.

• Senate Confirmation Uncertain: The Senate confirmation process for Blanche is expected to be contentious. Republican senators have expressed skepticism over his actions, particularly regarding the weaponization fund. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina has voiced concerns. Blanche would need near-unanimous Republican support in a chamber where Republicans hold a narrow 53-47 majority. This was reported by Al Jazeera and Jerusalem Post.

• Trump's Statements: Trump said he would nominate Blanche on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during remarks at a White House event, according to footage shared by aide Dan Scavino. Trump added that the confirmation process would go "very quickly." This was reported by BBC and The Hindu.