Trump says Todd Blanche ‘kept him out of jail for years’ while revisiting legal battles at WH event
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump drew laughter and instant online attention after joking that Todd Blanche “kept him out of jail for years” while praising the acting attorney general during a White House event honoring law enforcement officials.
The remark quickly went viral online as Trump revisited his long-standing claims that he was unfairly targeted through investigations and indictments before returning to office.
Trump praises Todd Blanche during White House law enforcement event
During Monday’s White House event, Trump singled out Blanche while applauding members of his administration and law enforcement officials gathered for the ceremony.
Trump: "We have a man who is doing a great job. I knew it! Because he kept me out of jail for years. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He kept me out of jail." pic.twitter.com/6kaR3mSTog
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2026
On Monday, the president hosted an event celebrating law enforcement and praised various members of his administration. Trump had some especially colorful remarks when he got around to Blanche.
“We have a man who’s doing a great job, I’ll tell you. I knew it, because he kept me out of jail for years.”
“Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He kept me out of jail.”
The crowd laughed as Trump continued referencing the multiple investigations and prosecutions he faced before winning back the presidency.
“They would indict me left and right, the crooked Democrats. You know, it’s amazing. They impeach me. They indict me. Then, when I get in office, if I say something like, ‘Well, maybe that should be looked into.’ ‘Weaponization!’”
Earlier this year, Trump elevated Blanche to acting attorney general after removing Pam Bondi from the role amid growing tensions inside the Justice Department. Blanche has since become one of the administration’s most visible legal and political defenders.
Trump renews criticism of investigations and indictments
The president also used the event to renew broader attacks against what he described as partisan abuses inside the justice system during previous administrations.
“I go through court cases. I win them because they were fake indictments. But when I even mention like, I said the other day that some of the stuff should be looked into.”
“They said, ‘Weaponization! He’s a terrible human being. Weaponization.’ They blame me for weaponization.”
Trump argued Democrats spent years trying to damage him politically through investigations, impeachments and criminal indictments before voters ultimately returned him to the White House.
“They are a crooked bunch and we want to keep it the way it is, what we have now. We have great law enforcement now.”
“We have law enforcement that loves our country, not law enforcement that’s sick and dangerous.”
Trump was indicted in three other cases, two of them at the federal level. The president was accused of holding on to classified documents and hindering their retrieval.
He also faced federal charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In Georgia, Trump was charged with attempting to overturn the election results in that state.
After Trump won re-election, the Department of Justice dismissed charges against him in line with longstanding DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Despite ongoing controversy surrounding the administration’s legal battles, Trump’s base has largely remained firmly behind him.