Attorney General Todd Blanche made what some observers called an “amazing confession” during a major TV interview, proving again why his nomination should have been flatly rejected.
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Blanche, who served as Trump’s personal attorney prior to joining the Justice Department, was officially appointed as the new Attorney General earlier this month, after a dicey confirmation process in which numerous concerns were raised about his potential deference to the president. Senators worried that he would pursue or avoid certain cases based on Trump’s demands, something that runs counter to the DOJ’s traditional independence from the White House.
In a Sunday interview on NBC News, anchor Kristin Welker pressed Blanche about whether or not his DOJ would “always act independently of the White House.” Blanche responded that this was a pledge he would not make, and that no attorney general should ever make. When Welker pressed further about Trump potentially making a request that crosses ethical boundaries, Blanche claimed that the president never has and never would make such a demand.
As clips of Blanche’s interview began to circulate on social media, reactions flooded in, torching him for refusing to make the exact sort of promise that attorneys general are supposed to.
“Actually that’s exactly what the Attorney General is supposed to pledge,” author and political commentator Molly Jong-Fast wrote in a post to X.
“Pretty amazing confession here by the AG,” former NBC News host Chuck Todd wrote in his own post. “Still can’t believe he was confirmed. I guess he gets points for being honest?”
“Corrupt weakling,” veteran White House correspondent John Harwood wrote in a post.
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“Which part of Todd Blanche is Trump’s personal attorney don’t people get??” Tara Setmayer, an anti-Trump conservative commentator, wrote in her own post. “That will always be his priority. Not upholding the laws for the American people.”
“Trump’s former (and de facto current) personal lawyer turned AG is here refusing to pledge to run an independent DOJ,” journalist Ahmed Baba wrote in a post. “No more ‘norms.’ Next Dem POTUS and Congress must codify DOJ prosecutorial independence into law, and close every other corruption loophole Trump has exploited.”
“The only reason Blanche is AG is because he will cross any ethical/legal line to defend Trump,” Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat, wrote in an official post. “He proved it as Trump’s personal attorney. He proved it as Deputy and Acting AG. Now we are going to see even more unprecedented levels of corruption at the American people’s expense.”
“Wrong answer,” ex-DOJ official Xochitl Hinojosa posted. “Every AG has been able to give this answer: the Justice Department will act independent of the WH on all criminal matters. The President should never dictate who to prosecute.”
Conservative commentator Rick Wilson was more to the point with his reaction, posting simply: “Impeach.”
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Impeach. https://t.co/haPSkcdz1l
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 16, 2026
