'I wish it weren't dead': Trump defends scrapped $1.8B 'weaponization' fund

WASHINGTON, DC: During the first televised Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, July 31, President Donald Trump expressed his regret over scrapping the Anti-Weaponization Fund and defended the now-scrapped fund, which was created in exchange for a lawsuit settlement between Trump and the IRS.

Trump advocated for the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which he claimed is currently 'dead,' while making clear he wished it were not.

Trump regrets scrapping Anti-Weaponization Fund

The Anti-Weaponization Fund, which was taken back earlier in the summer amid a bipartisan outcry, remains controversial as two outgoing GOP senators have refused to vote for Trump’s nomination for Attorney General, Todd Blanche, until he provides a written guarantee making clear the fund is dead once and for all.

Notably, Blanche conceded during his confirmation hearing that the fund in its current form could be revived at any time.

“Just to be clear, do you agree with the acting attorney general that the anti-weaponization fund is dead? And why not just put that in writing?” a reporter asked Trump during the meeting.

“Well, it is dead, but, you know, I wish it weren’t, to be honest with you,” the president replied.

Trump accuses Biden, Obama of weaponizing government

Trump argued that people he believes were targeted by the government deserved compensation, saying they were "horribly treated" and "horribly abused."

"I think people were horribly treated, horribly abused — this has nothing to do with Todd, this was me — horribly abused. And I’d like to see them compensated for the pain. They lost their families," he said.

"They committed self-harm. Many people committed self-harm. They went down for an innocent journey," Trump said.

He went on to accuse the Biden and Obama administrations of misusing the government against political opponents.

"And I’m not only talking about that — I’m talking about something that doesn’t even have to do with that — the way they were treated. The Biden administration and the Obama administration weaponized government and destroyed lives," he added.

Trump criticizes GOP holdouts over Todd Blanche nomination

When asked whether he would accept written limits on the audit immunity deal to help secure Todd Blanche's confirmation as attorney general, Trump instead defended his nominee and criticized the Republican senators holding up the process.

Trump said Blanche should be confirmed immediately and took aim at Sen John Cornyn, arguing the Texas Republican had praised Blanche before losing his primary.

He suggested Cornyn had become "angry" after his defeat and said he understood his frustration.

The president also appeared to reference Sen Thom Tillis, another Republican, insisting the $1.8 billion "weaponization" fund be formally ruled out in writing before backing Blanche's nomination, suggesting more criticism from GOP holdouts could follow.