Trump’s Reversal: President Threatens to Push Anti-Weaponization Fund Into Law as Attorney General Nomination Stalls
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he would push to formally codify his controversial $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” into law if two Republican senators continue blocking the confirmation of his pick for attorney general. The statement was especially notable given that just a day earlier, speaking to reporters at Camp David on Friday, Trump himself had acknowledged the fund was “dead.” Within roughly 24 hours, the president’s position had completely reversed.
The Senators at the Center of the Dispute
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn and North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis have long opposed the fund, and it’s their resistance that has stalled the confirmation process for Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, whom Trump wants installed permanently in the role. Both senators have said they will not let Blanche’s nomination move forward until they receive written assurance from the Department of Justice confirming that the fund has been permanently eliminated. So far, Blanche has been unable to provide that written confirmation.
Trump’s Response: A Sharp Rebuke on Social Media
In a statement posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump directly criticized both Cornyn and Tillis. He suggested their opposition stemmed from personal frustration over his decision not to endorse either senator in past elections — a decision he tied to Cornyn’s subsequent election loss and Tillis’s decision to withdraw from his own race. Trump said that if the two senators refuse to approve Blanche, whom he described as one of the most respected professionals in the country, he would keep Blanche in the acting role indefinitely while pushing hard to get the anti-weaponization legislation passed instead.
According to Trump, the bill would benefit people who, in his view, were mistreated by the previous Biden and Obama administrations. He also claimed he personally would gain nothing from the fund, despite what he described as having been treated poorly himself. In the same statement, Trump praised Blanche as a “voice of reason” and said the fund would immediately be back under consideration, adding that he intended to see it through.
Where the Fund Came From
The anti-weaponization fund originates from a settlement negotiated between Trump’s private legal team and his own Department of Justice. The fund is designed to compensate individuals who believe they were unfairly targeted by the federal government — a group that includes participants in the January 6 Capitol riot. The settlement also contains a separate provision that would shield Trump and his business interests from IRS audits, a detail that has drawn scrutiny from critics.
Blanche’s Position and the Senators’ Demand
Todd Blanche has, at various points, publicly indicated that the anti-weaponization fund would not move forward. But for Cornyn and Tillis, verbal assurances haven’t been enough — they’ve specifically asked for written confirmation from the DOJ that the fund is gone for good. That written assurance has not materialized, leaving Blanche’s path to permanent confirmation blocked.
Senator Tillis Pushes Back
Senator Thom Tillis issued a pointed statement on X in response to Trump’s reversal. He said that despite comments as recent as the day before suggesting the fund was dead, it had become clear the president intended to revive the payout program in some form — either by improperly establishing another similar fund or by pressuring Congress to pass legislation that a majority of Senate Republicans would likely oppose.
Tillis added that he considers Blanche qualified for the role, but said it was unfortunate that his confirmation was now being held up because of the president’s reversal. He expressed hope that the standoff could be resolved by Tuesday.
Reaction From Political Circles
The episode has drawn reaction from Democratic lawmakers as well. Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle weighed in publicly on the matter, questioning the president’s abrupt change in position. Political observers note that the dispute also highlights a growing rift within the Republican Party, with some senior senators now openly breaking from the president on a high-profile issue.
What Happens Next
For now, Todd Blanche remains in his role as acting attorney general while his permanent nomination sits stalled pending Senate approval. Opposition from two influential Republican senators remains the central obstacle to his confirmation, and Trump’s latest threat has only added another layer of complexity to the standoff.
Should Trump actually attempt to push the anti-weaponization bill through Congress, it could trigger a significant political fight within his own party. Tillis has already made clear that most Senate Republicans are unlikely to support such legislation, meaning its path to passage would be far from guaranteed.
The dispute also raises a broader question that critics have pointed to before: whether the president is using government mechanisms to advance his own personal legal interests. The provision shielding Trump and his businesses from IRS audits ties the settlement directly to his own financial interests, a detail that has fueled ongoing criticism of the arrangement.
Bottom Line
The situation illustrates how personal grievances, political interests, and policy decisions can become tightly intertwined in Washington. On one side, President Trump wants his close ally Todd Blanche permanently installed as attorney general. On the other, two senior senators from his own party have tied that confirmation to a controversial fund they say must be permanently killed off. It remains to be seen whether the standoff will be resolved by Tuesday, as Tillis hopes, or whether the dispute will deepen further, exposing an even wider rift within the Republican Party.
This is a developing political story. Details surrounding this situation may change in the coming days, and readers are encouraged to follow updates from reliable, official sources.
