Trump Brands Murkowski a Traitor Over Blanche Vote
Trump attacks Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski for opposing Todd Blanche's attorney general nomination while citing her past support for Merrick Garland.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump attacked Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski as a traitor for refusing to back Todd Blanche, his pick to lead the Justice Department.
Murkowski, a Republican serving Alaska since 2002, said she would vote against confirming Blanche as attorney general, narrowing his path through a Senate her party controls 53-47, according to cbsnews.com. Trump contrasted her stance with her earlier support for Merrick Garland, the former attorney general who oversaw the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.
Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Lisa Murkowski will not vote for Todd Blanche… After having no problem voting for Merrick Garland. Subscribe Claiming Blanche will weaponize the DOJ and is too political. The same Garland that personally signed off on the raid of President Trump’s home. Murkowski is owned. Traitor.” on August 8, 2026 at 7:10 AM ET.
This is Trump’s 4th message released today, and the last post came moments ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 48 of his 479 posts over the last 30 days classified as Domestic Policy posts.
Murkowski said in a statement she fears the administration could revive a proposed fund to compensate people who claim unfair investigations, even though Blanche issued a formal order terminating it, according to cbsnews.com. She argued the Senate holds leverage over the fund only while his nomination remains pending, and that leverage vanishes once the chamber confirms him.
Blanche cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 12-10 vote this week after promising Republican holdouts he would not pursue the payout, according to cbsnews.com. Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina backed him after the Justice Department confirmed in writing it would not advance the fund, later described as a far larger sum tied to allies who felt targeted.
President Donald J. Trump posted a message on Truth Social at WASHINGTON D.C.
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The math tightens the outcome for Trump. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky is absent while recovering from a hospitalization, leaving Blanche room to lose only two Republican votes if every Democrat opposes him. Susan Collins of Maine has also announced her opposition, while Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said he will vote yes, likely giving Blanche just enough support, according to cbsnews.com.
The stakes reach beyond one nomination. A confirmed attorney general sets enforcement priorities that shape federal prosecutions, civil rights cases, and antitrust actions touching ordinary Americans. Even a failed confirmation would not remove Blanche, who can stay acting attorney general indefinitely.
Trump has clashed with Murkowski before. She voted to convict him at his second impeachment trial in 2021, one of seven Republicans to do so. In the Punchbowl interview, Trump said he is “against Murkowski” and claimed his “beautiful MAGA base” would not be happy if he backed someone who voted to impeach him, according to cbsnews.com.
The next decision rests with the full Senate, which plans a floor vote on Blanche’s confirmation in the coming days. A firm date for that vote has not been announced.
Confirmation fights over attorneys general have split the Senate before. In 1925, the chamber rejected Charles Beecher Warren, President Calvin Coolidge’s nominee, twice within weeks, marking the first cabinet rejection in nearly 60 years. Coolidge tried to install Warren as a recess appointee, and the nominee ultimately withdrew, leaving the president to name a replacement who won easy confirmation.
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