Trump’s attorney general pick hits resistance from Republicans : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-07-30 15:30:00 — www.npr.org
Trump Threatens to Withdraw Attorney General Nominee Over Tax Immunity Deal Dispute
President Trump has signaled he is willing to temporarily withdraw Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, amid mounting resistance from key Senate Republicans over a controversial Justice Department settlement tied to Trump’s own tax returns.
Trump’s Position and Attacks on GOP Senators
Trump took to social media to praise Blanche, calling him “a star,” while also attacking Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina. Trump claimed he refused to endorse either senator and suggested their political careers may have ended as a result. Notably, Trump endorsed Cornyn’s primary challenger, a move that contributed to Cornyn’s decision to leave Congress at the end of the year. Tillis is also retiring.
Trump further stated that if Cornyn and Tillis do not drop their opposition, he could withdraw Blanche’s nomination now and simply resubmit it after both senators leave office at the end of the year.
The Controversial Settlement
At the heart of the dispute is a Justice Department agreement that ended Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS over leaked tax returns. The deal included a sweeping immunity provision shielding Trump, his family, and his businesses from audits of past tax returns—a benefit, as Senator Cornyn pointed out, “no other taxpayer could possibly get.” Cornyn and Tillis are demanding written guarantees about the scope of this immunity, but say they have not received the assurances they seek.
Trump’s Refusal to Provide Assurances
According to reporting, Trump would rather withdraw Blanche’s nomination than provide the requested assurances about the tax immunity deal, which directly benefits him and his family. This has led to a standoff, with the Senate Judiciary Committee postponing a planned vote on Blanche’s nomination.
Conclusion
Trump’s willingness to pull a key Justice Department nomination to protect an extraordinary tax immunity deal for himself and his family has deepened divisions within the Republican Party and raised serious questions about the use of presidential power for personal benefit. As the standoff continues, Blanche remains acting attorney general, but the controversy over Trump’s settlement and his attacks on fellow Republicans show no signs of abating.