Todd Blanche expresses ‘love’ for Trump, says he’s open to replacing Pam Bondi if nominated by POTUS

WASHINGTON, DC: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made his first public remarks since Pam Bondi’s exit from the Department of Justice, using the moment to both outline his priorities and openly praise President Donald Trump.

Speaking at an anti-fraud press conference, Blanche made it clear that his future in the role depends entirely on the president’s decision.

Todd Blanche says working for Donald Trump is ‘greatest honor’

Blanche did not hold back when it came to expressing admiration for the president. “As to whether or not I want this job, I did not ask for this job. I love working for President Trump,” he said.

He went on to call the opportunity “the greatest honor of a lifetime,” making it clear that he sees his current position as a privilege rather than an ambition he actively pursued.

Blanche also said he would be open to staying on in a permanent capacity if Trump chooses to nominate him. “If President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, that’s an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, that’s an honor,” he added.

At the same time, he stressed that he would accept any decision made by the president, even if it meant stepping aside. “If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ‘Thank you very much. I love you, sir.’”

Pam Bondi’s exit leaves questions unanswered

Blanche’s remarks come just days after Trump announced that Pam Bondi would be leaving her role as Attorney General.

Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney and was also the DOJ’s deputy attorney general, has stepped in as acting head of the department.

Officials can serve in an acting role for up to 210 days, but Trump has yet to name a permanent replacement.

When asked about the circumstances behind Bondi’s departure, Blanche said, “nobody has any idea… except for the president,” offering little clarity on the decision.

He did, however, indicate that the transition process is still ongoing. Bondi has reportedly taken 30 days to hand over responsibilities, and Blanche noted that they have been in regular contact during that period.

“As far as Pam Bondi’s last day on the job, I am the acting attorney general,” Blanche said, adding that she remains “very much a big supporter of this department.”

DOJ shifts focus to major fraud crackdown under Todd Blanche

Much of Blanche’s press conference focused on the Department of Justice’s efforts to tackle large-scale fraud cases.

He highlighted several recent prosecutions involving healthcare and Covid-19-related schemes, totaling more than half a billion dollars.

Among the cases mentioned were a $160 million healthcare enrollment fraud operation that resulted in a guilty plea, as well as a $100 million COVID-19 fraud case that led to sentencing.

Blanche argued that these cases are only a small part of a much larger problem, suggesting that fraud targeting taxpayer-funded programs remains widespread.

To address this, he formally announced the creation of a new National Fraud Enforcement Division.

The unit, led by Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, will focus on strengthening investigations and improving coordination across US attorney’s offices.

“We have a storied history of combating fraud and bringing criminal actors to justice, but the department has never adopted a comprehensive and coordinated approach to investigating and prosecuting fraud against taxpayer dollars and taxpayer-funded programs,” Blanche said.

Speculation grows over Todd Blanche’s future as Attorney General

Blanche’s performance at the press conference has already sparked speculation about his long-term prospects.

Former US Attorney John Fishwick suggested that Blanche may be positioning himself for the top role.

“Todd Blanche seems to be trying out for the top job today in his opening press conference and surely trying to catch Trump’s attention,” Fishwick said, noting that Blanche also pushed back against some questions from reporters.

At the same time, other names are reportedly being considered.

Trump has held discussions with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin about potentially taking on the role, though no formal nomination has been made.