Trump says Todd Blanche should be “immediately approved” as he defends plans tied to a $1.8 billion “slush fund,” amid attorney general confirmation delays

President Donald Trump used a Truth Social post to argue that Todd Blanche should be “immediately approved” by the U.S. Senate, as a stalled confirmation process for the nominee to serve as attorney general remains under scrutiny. The post also defended plans described by critics as involving a $1.8 billion “slush fund,” an assertion Trump rejected in the same remarks.

The confirmation delay is the central thread in the dispute, with Trump framing the issue as one of Senate action rather than the underlying policy details. The Guardian reported that Trump’s post came Friday and paired a call for rapid confirmation with a defense of the contested plans.

According to the reporting, Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defense lawyer, has faced opposition connected to the administration’s broader approach to the matter critics characterized in terms of a “slush fund.” The nomination has not proceeded on the timeline sought by Trump, according to the reporting, leaving Blanche’s ability to take office tied to Senate review.

The White House and Senate confirmation process operate under longstanding constitutional and statutory procedures for presidential nominations. Under those procedures, the Senate’s timing and handling of a nomination can turn on issues raised by senators and other stakeholders, including concerns about ethics, compliance, and legal authority, as well as broader political disagreement.

In this case, the immediate practical stake described by the reporting is the attorney general’s role in directing federal law enforcement and overseeing the Justice Department. While a confirmation remains pending, the department’s leadership can be affected by staffing arrangements and acting authorities, depending on the statutory structure and internal executive branch assignments.

Trump’s intervention, as described in the report, also reflects how the president is attempting to manage the narrative around the nomination by linking the “immediately approved” message to the defense of the $1.8 billion proposal language. The president’s response sets up continued Senate negotiations over Blanche’s nomination and whether senators will advance the nomination absent resolution of the underlying concerns raised by critics.

As of the publication of the reporting, no resolution in the Senate process was described. The next step for lawmakers would be the continuation of the confirmation process for Blanche, including any committee action and potential floor consideration, as determined by Senate leadership.