Trump Rips Lisa Murkowski After She Nearly Derails Todd Blanche Confirmation

President Donald J. Trump tore into Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Saturday after the Alaska senator joined Democrats in opposing Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general, nearly preventing Trump’s pick from securing Senate confirmation.

Blanche ultimately survived the razor-thin vote, winning confirmation 50-49 early Saturday morning. Murkowski and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine joined every Democrat present in voting against him, while Sen. Mitch McConnell was absent. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana provided a crucial vote in Blanche’s favor.

Trump responded by unloading on Murkowski in a series of social media posts. The president reposted one message that labeled the Alaska Republican a “traitor” and highlighted her history of breaking with Trump and other members of the Republican Party on major votes.

The president also shared footage of former Attorney General Merrick Garland acknowledging that he personally approved the decision to seek a warrant for the FBI’s 2022 search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. Trump contrasted Murkowski’s opposition to Blanche with her 2021 vote to confirm Garland as attorney general.

Murkowski defended her decision by arguing that Blanche was not sufficiently independent from the White House. She said the country needed an attorney general willing to check what she described as the administration’s “worst impulses,” pointing to concerns about politicization at the Justice Department.

Blanche’s nomination had already become one of the most contentious confirmation battles of Trump’s second term. Republican concerns centered partly on a controversial $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and an agreement involving protections for Trump and his family from certain future tax investigations. Blanche made concessions on those issues as he worked to secure enough Republican votes.

Cassidy ultimately provided the support Blanche needed after announcing Friday that he would vote for confirmation. Although Cassidy acknowledged having concerns about some of Blanche’s decisions, he argued that Blanche’s legal experience and relationship with Trump could make him more effective at leading the Justice Department than another potential nominee.

Trump’s anger toward Murkowski comes after years of clashes between the two Republicans. Murkowski voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial in 2021 and has repeatedly broken with the president on nominations and other major issues, making her one of his most frequent Republican critics in the Senate.

Despite Murkowski’s opposition, Blanche is now officially confirmed as attorney general. The narrow vote delivered Trump an important victory while also exposing continuing divisions between the president and a small group of Republican senators willing to oppose some of his most consequential nominees.