President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he intends to nominate acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to permanently lead the Justice Department, elevating one of his closest allies to the nation’s top law enforcement position.
Speaking at a White House event, Trump said he would formally move forward with Blanche’s nomination on Thursday, praising the acting attorney general and expressing confidence that the Senate would quickly consider his confirmation.
The announcement came in a video posted by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, who congratulated Blanche following the president’s remarks.
Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April, when Trump dismissed former Attorney General Pam Bondi. Prior to joining the administration, Blanche worked as a federal prosecutor and later represented Trump as his personal attorney, including during the president’s New York hush-money case.
Since taking over the Justice Department, Blanche has emerged as one of the administration’s most influential legal figures. His tenure has included efforts to pursue investigations involving several of Trump’s political adversaries and oversee controversial policy initiatives.
One of the most closely watched cases under Blanche’s leadership involved former FBI Director James Comey, who was indicted over a social media post that administration officials argued could be interpreted as a threat against Trump. Comey has denied that allegation.
Blanche also played a central role in defending the administration’s proposed $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, a program designed to compensate individuals who claimed they were unfairly targeted by the federal government. The proposal faced bipartisan criticism and legal challenges, and the administration has since stepped back from moving forward with the fund.
The nomination now heads to the Senate, where Blanche previously won confirmation as deputy attorney general in 2025 on a largely party-line vote.
If confirmed, Blanche would become the permanent head of the Justice Department and oversee federal law enforcement, criminal prosecutions and national legal policy during the remainder of Trump’s second term.
