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Trump also said Blanche was “doing a very good job” at the Justice Department.
Blanche was installed as acting attorney general in April after Trump dismissed Pam Bondi from the position. Since then, the Justice Department has moved quickly under his leadership, taking on a series of high-profile and politically sensitive actions that have drawn national attention and sparked intense debate in Washington.
Among the most significant developments has been the announcement of criminal charges against former FBI Director James Comey, a move that immediately reverberated through political and legal circles. At the same time, the department has escalated its scrutiny of former CIA Director John Brennan, widening an already controversial investigative focus on former intelligence officials.
In another notable shift, the Justice Department also removed certain press releases related to prosecutions of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. That decision has fueled further criticism from opponents who argue the administration is reshaping how those events are publicly documented and interpreted.
Beyond those actions, Blanche also played a central role in advancing a controversial proposal tied to the creation of a $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate allies of President Trump. The plan quickly became one of the most debated initiatives linked to the Justice Department in recent months.
The proposal sparked immediate backlash across Washington, including from some Senate Republicans who questioned both its structure and intent. Critics argued the fund risked becoming a taxpayer-financed political payout system, while others raised concerns about whether individuals connected to the January 6 Capitol events could potentially benefit from the program.
Facing mounting political pressure and legal challenges, Blanche ultimately announced on Tuesday that the proposed fund would be scrapped entirely, bringing an abrupt end to the initiative before it could advance further.
Even with the plan withdrawn, questions surrounding it continued into congressional oversight discussions. During testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, Blanche confirmed that the federal government is still maintaining an agreement that prevents the Internal Revenue Service from auditing Trump, his family, and related entities.
For his part, President Trump defended the concept behind the proposed fund during his podcast appearance, arguing that many of his supporters had been unfairly treated and deserved compensation for what they endured.
“These are people that have been decimated,” said Trump. “There’s never been anything like this, what happened to those people, and these were many great people. And I gave them pardons. I’m very proud to have given them pardons, and I think they should be (reimbursed) for a crooked government.”
The remarks highlight Trump’s continued alignment with Blanche as the Justice Department pursues a series of aggressive and highly scrutinized actions under his administration. Despite the political controversy surrounding some of those moves, Trump has shown no indication of distancing himself from his acting attorney general.
Instead, the president’s comments suggest growing confidence that Blanche is not only effective in the role, but likely to remain a key figure in shaping the Justice Department moving forward.
Taken together, the developments point to an administration that is firmly backing its current legal leadership while pushing ahead with a broader agenda focused on revisiting past investigations, challenging entrenched institutions, and redefining the direction of federal law enforcement.
If Trump follows through on his remarks, Todd Blanche’s role may soon shift from acting attorney general to the permanent head of one of the most powerful departments in the federal government.
