Mark Schiefelbein/Jacquelyn Martin/Allison Robbert/AP Photos
A day after admitting his controversial anti-weaponization fund was “dead,” President Donald Trump pledged to get the effort “PASSED” in a fiery Truth Social post slamming Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC).
The president’s apparent pivot came after he spoke about the fund — which has sparked bipartisan pushback — at a Friday Cabinet meeting held at Camp David.
“Well, it is dead, but, you know, I wish it weren’t, to be honest with you,” Trump told a reporter when asked about the fund.
By Saturday morning, Trump insisted in a Truth Social post the $1.8 billion fund would become a reality:
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, one of the most respected professionals, according to everybody, in the Country, to be the United States Attorney General, then I will keep Todd as Acting A.G., and push hard to get the Anti-Weaponization Bill, which takes care of those who have been so badly treated by the Crooked Joe Biden (and Obuma!) Administration (I get nothing, although I was treated horribly!), PASSED. Todd Blanche was a voice of reason! It will immediately be back on the table, and I will get it done. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT
The president’s message comes amid a standoff between the lame duck senators and Trump, with Cornyn and Tillis refusing to vote to confirm Blanche as U.S. Attorney General until they get a written guarantee the anti-weaponization fund is dead.
Trump’s Justice Department said earlier this summer it would drop the fund amid outcry from both Democrats and Republicans, with critics claiming it would be a taxpayer-fueled “slush fund” for the president’s allies.
Tillis is not seeking re-election while Cornyn lost his primary race to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, after Trump endorsed Paxton over the incumbent.
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