Overview
- At his first press conference as acting attorney general this week, Todd Blanche said he would tell President Trump “I love you, sir” if replaced, and the clip went viral with widespread ridicule and calls for his removal.
- Blanche remains in the post as the White House has yet to nominate a permanent attorney general, with some reports citing insiders who see him as a leading contender and others naming EPA chief Lee Zeldin and Sen. Mike Lee as possibilities.
- Before stepping in, Blanche served as deputy attorney general and previously represented Trump in his 2024 New York criminal trial, a pairing that has prompted questions about impartiality.
- He also said the president can direct Justice Department cases and urged a purge of prosecutors who brought Trump cases during the prior administration, drawing fresh warnings about political interference.
- Any permanent pick must be confirmed by the Senate, which could turn a nomination closely tied to Trump into a tough hearing and a new test of long-standing DOJ norms.