President Donald Trump said Friday that a controversial $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund tied to an IRS settlement is “dead,” even as he continued to defend the idea of compensating his political allies. The mixed signals have further complicated negotiations with two Republican senators blocking the confirmation of his attorney general nominee.
Speaking to reporters at Camp David, Trump said administration officials had “agreed not to have a fund,” while making clear he disagrees with that outcome. Hours earlier, in a social media post, he argued that people prosecuted by the Justice Department — including many charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack — “are suffering still, many ruined,” and deserved compensation.
Senators Hold Firm on Written Guarantees
Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, have refused to support Todd Blanche’s nomination until they receive clear written confirmation that the fund is permanently ended. Tillis said after Trump’s comments that the president’s remarks showed the fund was “still alive,” which is why formal termination is necessary.
Blanche, currently serving as acting attorney general and Trump’s former personal lawyer, previously stated the fund would not move forward. The Justice Department has provided language rescinding Blanche’s May 18 order establishing the fund, but the senators say it falls short. They also want clarifications on a related provision granting Trump and his family immunity from certain tax audits.
Nomination Delayed Amid Ongoing Talks
The Judiciary Committee postponed a vote on Blanche’s nomination earlier this week. Trump has even floated the possibility of withdrawing the nomination and resubmitting it after Cornyn and Tillis leave office. Behind the scenes, negotiations continue, with some blaming White House advisers for the impasse.
Several Republican senators have voiced strong opposition to the settlement, particularly the idea of payouts connected to the Capitol riot. Trump’s attorneys are also appealing a judge’s ruling that criticized the settlement as improper self-dealing.
As talks drag on, the fate of Blanche’s nomination hangs in the balance, highlighting internal Republican tensions over accountability, loyalty, and the limits of executive power.
