President Trump again pushed his proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund and defended his nominee for a Justice Department role, Todd Blanche, during a brief gaggle on Air Force One. Trump argued the fund would reimburse people he said suffered serious harm, including an asserted "22 suicides," and tied Blanche's prospects to recent politics in Texas. Several Senate Republicans say they will not support Blanche without written guarantees the fund is dead, and Sen. John Fetterman has called the nomination and the proposal untenable.
Trump Reiterates Push for Controversial $1.8B 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund, Defends Todd Blanche Nomination
Trump Makes the Case For His Anti-Weaponization Fund: ‘Their Families Were Destroyed’
President Donald Trump renewed his campaign to establish an "anti-weaponization" fund while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday after a round of golf at his Bedminster, N.J., club.
During a brief gaggle, the president also traded barbs with a reporter about their outlet, quipping that he preferred the BBC to ABC before returning to his pitch for the fund and his nominee for a key Justice Department position, Todd Blanche.
Blanche and the Fund
Trump described Blanche as "outstanding in every way" and tied Blanche's prospects to recent political developments in Texas: "It's because I backed Cornyn's opponent and his opponent won in a landslide. That's the only reason it's happening," he said. He added that if the Senate does not confirm Blanche, he would "put it back on the table."
Rationale and Controversy
"People were hurt so badly. Twenty-two suicides. They were destroyed. Their families were destroyed... And this would be a reimbursement for the pain that they suffered. A lot of people like it," Trump said, arguing the fund would compensate people he says suffered violent harm.
Trump's proposal and the nomination are politically charged. Several Senate Republicans — including John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) — have said they will withhold votes for Blanche unless they receive written assurances that Trump's proposed $1.8 billion fund will be formally scrapped. A central part of the controversy concerns who would be eligible for payments; reports indicate the proposed fund could include some individuals connected to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Senate Response
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) told CNN, "The math's just not there on Blanche. I'm a hard no on Blanche... It doesn't make any sense. I mean, it's unconstitutional, honestly, from what it seems. And I don't see him being confirmed."
Republican opposition from Cornyn, Tillis and Cassidy — each of whom has public leverage in a lame-duck Senate — underscores the delicate politics surrounding the nomination and the broader fund proposal.
Media
Video of the president's remarks was carried by Fox News. The original report on the exchange and the fund appeared on Mediaite.
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