From Trump’s lawyer to the nation’s top lawman: Todd Blanche confirmed as U.S. Attorney General
The Senate approved his nomination 50–49; Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted with Democrats against the confirmation.
Todd Blanche was confirmed as the United States Attorney General after a closely divided Senate vote, formally taking the top role at the Department of Justice at age 52. The chamber approved his nomination by a narrow margin — 50 votes "for" and 49 "against" — with Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining Democrats in opposition.
Blanche’s rise marks an unusual professional pivot: a former federal prosecutor turned prominent New York lawyer who accepted a high‑profile role as one of Donald Trump’s lead defense attorneys. He resigned a partnership at a major New York law firm in 2023 to represent Trump and shortly thereafter became one of the president’s most trusted lawyers, representing him in three federal indictments.
As Attorney General, Blanche is expected to prioritize cases the administration describes as responses to alleged politicization of the Justice Department against Trump and his allies. Announced priorities also include vigorous enforcement of immigration policy and investigations into fraud affecting federal programs.
Role since the White House return
After Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, Blanche emerged as a central figure in reshaping the Justice Department along the president’s priorities. During that period he oversaw the opening of proceedings against political figures — including former FBI director James Comey — and supervised dismissals of experienced prosecutors and long‑serving department officials.
The confirmation fight exposed divisions inside the Republican conference. Party leaders and allies pressed senators to support Blanche, but resistance from some quarters remained strong. Murkowski resisted those pressures and voted against; Collins also broke with many Republicans by voting with Democrats.
Blanche now moves from serving as one of Trump’s defenders to leading the agency charged with enforcing federal law under a Trump administration. Numerous media outlets published images of the new attorney general alongside senior law‑enforcement officials; one widely circulated photo showed Todd Blanche beside the FBI director, photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO.
Photo: EPA/JIM LO SCALZO
