US Attorney General Todd Blanche declined on Sunday to promise that the Department of Justice would always act independently of the White House, telling a national television audience that no attorney general should ever make such a pledge. His remarks have reignited concerns over the department’s autonomy under US President Donald Trump.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Blanche was pressed by host Kristen Welker on whether he could guarantee the Justice Department would operate free of political direction from the president.
“No, I’m not going to pledge that,” Blanche shot back. “And no attorney general ever should.” Welker followed up by asking whether he would carry out an instruction from Trump that he felt crossed an ethical or legal line.
“He would never do that,” Blanche responded. “He never has. He never will.”
The exchange came just days after Blanche, previously Trump’s personal defence lawyer, was formally sworn in as the US’ top law enforcement official. He had been serving as US acting attorney general for months after Pam Bondi left in April, before the Senate confirmed him to the post last week.
Todd Blanche: Confirmation Vote Exposes Deep Unease
Blanche’s path to confirmation was far from smooth. Forty-nine senators, including two Republicans and every Democrat, voted against his confirmation, citing worries that he would struggle to separate himself from his previous role as Trump’s personal attorney while running the department.
Those concerns were not new.
During his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Blanche declined to say he would act independently of the president, arguing instead that the department is “part of the executive” branch and that he would be subject to dismissal by the US President if confirmed.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois told the same hearing that the attorney general “continues to operate as the president’s personal lawyer”.
Blanche has previously said he sees no contradiction in that arrangement. He told the committee he would remain a member of the cabinet and acknowledged that “President Trump can fire me whenever he wants”, while insisting he was still willing to challenge the president when necessary, saying “President Trump trusts me to give him counsel,” but “counsel does not mean I’m a yes man.”
Todd Blanche: ‘Integrity’ Offered As Substitute for Independence?
Pushed on Sunday to explain the distinction, Blanche argued that a blanket pledge of independence would be unworkable, offering what he called an example: that promising to “act independently of the White House” would mean he could not comply if Trump requested the department “go after every violent criminal in this country.”
He said he would instead commit to leading a department that would “act with integrity” and “prosecute without fear or any sort of favour.”
Critics were quick to seize on the remarks.
Democratic strategist and CNN commentator Xochitl Hinojosa said Blanche had given the “wrong answer,” arguing that “every AG has been able to give this answer: the Justice Department will act independent of the WH on all criminal matters” and that the president should never dictate prosecutorial decisions.
Former “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd called it a “pretty amazing confession” on social media.
Todd Blanche: Wider Battles Await New Attorney General
The independence question is not merely theoretical. Blanche now inherits a string of politically charged matters, including the department’s handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein, ongoing litigation tied to Trump’s IRS settlement, prosecutions linked to the US president’s political opponents, and legal disputes over his White House ballroom project and election-related lawsuits ahead of November’s midterms, according to reporting on his swearing-in.
His swearing-in ceremony itself drew scrutiny: it was held privately at the White House, a departure from the more open events traditionally afforded to incoming attorneys general.
US Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, both Republicans who had wavered over the nomination, ultimately backed Blanche’s confirmation after receiving assurances he would not attempt to revive certain earlier US Justice Department initiatives, according to reporting on the confirmation battle.
Todd Blanche: Defence Lawyer Turned Deputy, Now Attorney General
Blanche’s rise through the Trump administration has been rapid. He served as a key figure on Trump’s defence team in the New York hush money trial, which ended in a conviction on 34 felony counts, and also represented the president in the federal classified documents case in Florida and the federal election interference case, both of which were ultimately dismissed.
He was named deputy attorney general in 2025 before being elevated to acting, and now confirmed, attorney general this year.
The US Justice Department has not issued a further statement beyond Mr Blanche’s own remarks on the programme. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the interview.
