Trump’s threat to push ahead on settlement fund injects new uncertainty into attorney general talks
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-08-01 11:15:00 — www.pbs.org
Trump Threatens to Revive Controversial Fund Amid Senate Standoff Over Attorney General Nominee
President Donald Trump has injected new turmoil into the Senate confirmation process for his nominee for attorney general, Todd Blanche, by threatening to push forward with a controversial fund designed to compensate his allies. In a Truth Social post, Trump stated he would keep Blanche as acting attorney general and revive the so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” if Republican Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina do not support Blanche’s nomination.
Trump’s Shifting Position on the Fund
Trump’s stance on the $1.8 billion fund has shifted repeatedly in recent days. On Friday, he declared the fund “dead” after negotiations with Senate leaders, a move seen as progress toward Blanche’s confirmation. However, by Saturday morning, Trump reversed course, announcing that the fund was back on the table and criticizing Cornyn and Tillis, both of whom are leaving the Senate at the end of their terms.
Trump wrote, “If Senators Cornyn and Tillis, both upset because I wouldn’t Endorse them (they lost, and quit, respectively!), aren’t going to approve Todd Blanche, one of the most respected professionals, according to everybody, in the Country, to be the United States Attorney General, then I will keep Todd as Acting A.G., and push hard” to restore the fund. He insisted the fund “takes care of those who have been so badly treated” during the Obama and Biden administrations.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims and Attacks
Trump’s comments misrepresent the positions of the senators and disparage them personally, claiming they are motivated by his lack of endorsement and labeling their departures as losses or quitting. Both Cornyn and Tillis have publicly opposed the fund due to concerns about its scope and the immunity it would provide Trump and his family from tax audits, not because of personal grievances.
The fund, created through a lawsuit settlement, would compensate individuals who feel mistreated by the criminal justice system and grant immunity from tax audits to Trump and his family. Both senators have demanded written assurances that the immunity is limited and not open-ended, with Cornyn specifically seeking clarification that the immunity is retrospective and only applies to parties in the litigation.
Ongoing Uncertainty and Republican Opposition
Despite Trump’s insistence that the fund is necessary to protect those “badly treated” by previous Democratic administrations, the Department of Justice has provided senators with documentation stating that the order establishing the fund is “rescinded and shall have no force or effect.” Still, Trump’s repeated public statements have left the issue unresolved and cast doubt on Blanche’s confirmation.
Senator Tillis responded to Trump’s reversal by warning that Trump “clearly intends to resurrect the payout pot for punks either by inappropriately establishing another bogus fund or pushing Congress to vote for a bill that the majority of Republicans in the Senate would be against.” He added that it is “unfortunate” Blanche will not be confirmed because of this reversal.
Conclusion
Trump’s shifting statements and personal attacks on fellow Republicans have thrown the attorney general confirmation process into chaos. His threat to revive a fund that would benefit his allies and provide immunity for himself and his family has drawn sharp criticism from within his own party. As the Senate prepares for a crucial vote, Trump’s actions underscore his willingness to use government resources to reward loyalty and punish dissent, raising serious questions about accountability and the rule of law.