Trump Reverses on 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' Drawing Sharp Criticism From Republicans and Critics
Key Takeaways
- •President Trump reversed his stance on the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," contradicting his earlier statement that the proposal was dead.
- •Republican Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn stalled the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche by demanding written proof the fund was abandoned.
- •Trump retaliated by threatening to keep Blanche in an acting role while seeking to pass the fund into law.
- •Multiple commentators noted that the legislation currently lacks the necessary congressional votes to pass.
- •Senator Tillis has committed to opposing Blanche's confirmation due to the disputed compensation fund.
President Donald Trump abruptly reversed his position on the controversial $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund," stating on Truth Social that the fund was no longer "dead" — a direct contradiction of his own declaration made at Camp David the previous day. The fund, which critics have characterized as a compensation mechanism for January 6 defendants — including those pardoned by Trump after assaulting police officers — has faced deep resistance within the president's own party. The sudden shift drew swift criticism on Saturday morning from political opponents, Republican senators, and legal commentators.
The president did not address the lack of congressional support in his early morning post. Instead, he simply asserted that he would "push hard" to get the fund passed into law.
"Trump doesn't have the votes for this," Bloomberg reporter Steven Dennis wrote. "Republican senators have already voted against the fund, and even more against paying rioters who beat police officers who Trump pardoned."
The reversal followed a delayed Senate vote to confirm acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Two Republican senators — Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Cornyn of Texas — had demanded written proof that the fund was no longer under consideration before proceeding with the confirmation. The demand reflected broader unease among Senate Republicans about being tied to a proposal that would direct public funds to individuals convicted of violent acts during the January 6 Capitol attack, a politically volatile issue heading into the midterm cycle.
"If Senators Cornyn and Tillis, both upset because I wouldn't Endorse them (they lost, and quit, respectively!), aren't going to approve Todd Blanche," Trump wrote on Truth Social, "then I will keep Todd as Acting A.G., and push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill."
NBC correspondent Julie Tsirkin responded on Saturday morning, noting that the president's stance validated the senators' insistence on physical documentation. "President Trump's insistence that his anti-weaponization fund is not only not going away, but now he wants LEGISLATION to codify it, is exactly why Senators Cornyn and Tillis wouldn't take Todd Blanche's word for it," she wrote.
The group Republicans Against Trump criticized the timing of Trump's message amid growing conservative concerns that the party could soon lose its Senate majority. "Great messaging ahead of the midterms," the group quipped.
Tara Setmayer, CEO of the Democratic super PAC Seneca Project, argued that Trump had effectively undermined the credibility of his own nominee for Attorney General. "Trump throws another temper tantrum and vows to fight for the Jan 6th slush fund to be passed," she wrote. "Totally confirming the fund was never 'dead' like Blanche claimed. This is why Cornyn & Tillis couldn't get it in writing. This is outrageous and should be a campaign issue."
Longtime Trump critic George Conway attacked the president's mental acuity, writing: "Trump is utterly, completely detached from reality."
Senator Tillis (R-NC) vowed to block Blanche's nomination over what he described as Trump's "payout for punks."