Trump Vows to Pursue Anti-'Weaponization' Fund If Attorney General Pick Not Confirmed

On August 1, U.S. President Donald Trump continued to voice support for the controversial anti-"weaponization" fund, which bipartisan critics argue would use taxpayer money to reward his political allies.

On Truth Social, Trump criticized opponents of Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General and used the fund as leverage. "This fund will be immediately put back on the agenda, and I will make it happen," Trump wrote.

The president's latest statement could further complicate the confirmation process for Blanche, who currently serves as acting Attorney General and previously acted as Trump's criminal defense lawyer.

Blanche oversaw the creation of the fund as part of a contentious settlement between Trump and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Trump had earlier sued the IRS, an agency under his administration, seeking $10 billion in damages.

The $1.776 billion fund was designed to compensate individuals claiming political persecution under former President Joe Biden, Trump's election rival. Two Republican senators, John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, are blocking Blanche's confirmation due to concerns about the fund.

Blanche had previously declared the fund "dead," but the senators argued he had not provided sufficient assurances to prevent its revival. Meanwhile, on July 31, Trump defended the fund's creation: "It's dead, but I wish it weren't."

In his August 1 post, Trump went further, threatening to "strongly push for the passage of the Anti-Weaponization Act" if Cornyn and Tillis do not support Blanche. He also vowed to keep Blanche as acting Attorney General, bypassing the Senate confirmation process.

Trump's use of the word "pass" may imply he would call on Congress to establish the fund rather than through the Department of Justice. However, such legislative efforts are unlikely to succeed as both parties harbor deep skepticism about the fund.

Critics, including law enforcement personnel, worry the fund could be used to pay Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Republican leaders have also called the fund "politically toxic" ahead of the November midterm elections.

Last week, lawmakers canceled a scheduled Senate Judiciary Committee vote to advance Blanche to the full chamber. Confirming Blanche requires support from all Republican senators on the committee, including Cornyn and Tillis.

Trump accused Cornyn and Tillis of pursuing a political vendetta, claiming both were "upset that I didn't endorse them." Tillis has announced he will retire in January when his term ends, while Cornyn lost in the primary to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Trump endorsed.

The confirmation process for Blanche has been dominated by questions about his loyalty to Trump and whether he would act independently as head of the nation's top law enforcement agency. Blanche has advanced many of Trump's priorities, including prosecuting political rivals such as former FBI Director James Comey.

Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled that the settlement between Trump and the IRS, which also protected Trump and his family from future tax investigations, was illegal. The judge also accused Blanche of "double-dealing" by working for both Trump and the federal agency Trump sued.