President Donald Trump said acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will remain in the role permanently, praising him for doing “a very good job” at the Department of Justice. Trump made the remarks during an interview with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine on her “Pod Force One” podcast. When asked directly whether Blanche would become his full-time attorney general, Trump said, “I think he will, yeah,” adding that he wanted to see how Blanche was received after being appointed in an acting capacity.
Blanche replaced Pam Bondi, who stepped down in early April. At the time, Trump described Bondi as a “great American patriot and a loyal friend” and said she was leaving for a “much needed and important new job in the private sector.” Blanche, a former defense attorney, has since served as the Justice Department’s top official while Trump evaluated whether to make the appointment permanent.
Trump said he had known Blanche for a long time and reiterated that the acting attorney general had performed well at DOJ. He also dismissed the idea that he was actively looking at other candidates. Asked about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a possible choice, Trump said, “No, Ron’s very good,” but added that he already had the right person in place. Trump referred to DeSantis as a friend and pointed to the governor’s recent decision to sign legislation renaming Palm Beach International Airport as the “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.” He said the name change reflected the improved relationship between the two men.
The comments mark a striking shift from the bitter rivalry between Trump and DeSantis during the 2024 Republican presidential primary. During that campaign, Trump frequently attacked DeSantis, calling him “Ron DeSanctimonious.” Since Trump’s election victory, however, the two have moved toward cooperation, including on issues such as immigration enforcement and redistricting.
Blanche’s tenure at the Justice Department has already drawn scrutiny. Under his leadership, the DOJ filed criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey, intensified its investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, and removed press releases about the January 6 Capitol riot. Blanche also played a role in advancing a proposed $1.8 billion compensation fund for Trump allies who Trump argued were unfairly targeted by the Biden Justice Department, though that plan was later abandoned. He also told a House appropriations committee that the federal government would honor an agreement preventing the IRS from auditing Trump, his family, and related entities.
Trump’s remarks suggest Blanche is likely to keep one of the most powerful jobs in government as the administration continues to reshape the Justice Department.
