This is not what the president needs right now. It could stop his progress in its tracks.
And Trump is going to be appalled after hearing what this senator plans to do.
In a striking moment on CNN, Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman made clear he has no plans to back Todd Blanche for Attorney General. The move highlights the persistent resistance from within Democratic ranks against President Trump’s selections, even as some observers once praised Fetterman for occasional independence.
Fetterman explained his stance during the interview, pointing to what he sees as a troubling shift in Washington norms.
He noted how cross-party support for nominees used to be routine and unremarkable. Yet today, such votes have become rare exceptions rather than standard practice.
The senator acknowledged voting for certain nominees in the past and finding real success through those efforts.
Cooperation on those issues proved useful in the current environment. Still, when it came to Blanche, Fetterman drew a firm boundary.
“Well, I mean, I just would like to remind people watching that it wasn‘t that long ago that it was very normal for members of the opposite party would vote for their nominees. I mean, that really wasn‘t scandalous or outrageous,” Fetterman stated.
“And now, as you pointed out, there are some that I have voted for, and I‘ve been able to work together on them. And that‘s actually been really productive right now. So, with him, I don‘t believe that’s someone that I could support.”
Fetterman went on to criticize what he called the “slush fund” associated with Blanche, referring to it as the 1776 fund.
He claimed nearly everyone across the aisle viewed the arrangement with alarm. This detail forms a core part of his objection, painting the choice as unacceptable from the start.
The senator stressed a fundamental principle about the role of the Attorney General. In his view, the position must never serve as a personal legal shield for the president.
This concern sits at the heart of his decision to oppose the nomination outright.
“I think everyone was collectively horrified by, like that slush fund or whatever you want to call like that, 1776 fund, whatever. I didn‘t even encounter anyone on the other side that even thought that was a great idea,” Fetterman continued.
“So, overall, I mean, the attorney general is never, ever the president‘s personal attorney. And so, that would be, you know, my concern.”
Fetterman described his evaluation process as thorough and straightforward.
He met with the nominees and assessed each one carefully. In Blanche’s case, the choice appeared simple and decisive.
