Trump threatens to pull attorney general nominee amid GOP revolt

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he wouldn’t object to temporarily withdrawing Todd Blanche as his nominee for attorney general amid resistance from two Republican senators, another blow to Blanche’s confirmation battle. Trump said he could renominate Blanche after Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, the primary voices of opposition, have left the Senate in the new year. But that itself is a gamble, as the makeup of the Senate could shift in ways that would make Blanche’s confirmation even more difficult. “I have no objection to temporarily withdrawing Todd’s name, if they do not do the right thing, and putting him back after Cornyn and Tillis are out of office,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

The president’s announcement puts Blanche’s nomination in even further peril, escalating a battle between the administration and GOP lawmakers over a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and an agreement that shields Trump and his family from government action over tax issues. But it did not mark the end. Cornyn and Tillis met privately with Blanche Thursday afternoon, and three sources familiar with the matter said they made progress, though did not reach a deal. Cornyn and Tillis have signaled for days they are unwilling to support Blanche’s nomination if the administration does not take action to unwind the fund and modify the settlement agreement, and the nomination cannot move forward without their support. And Cornyn suggested Thursday that he and his North Carolina colleague were not alone. “There are more than just two people who have reservations about the weaponization fund and about the scope of the settlement agreement,” he said.The Texas Republican lost his primary this spring to Trump-backed firebrand Ken Paxton. Tillis, a frequent Trump critic, decided last year not to run for reelection. Democrats are now pouring money into both races in hopes of flipping the seats blue in their battle to gain the Senate majority. Trump unleashed harsh criticism of Cornyn and Tillis and said that he had “ended” both of their political careers. Read More...........