Todd Blanche Was Asked If Donald Trump Is His ‘Friend.’ His Response Was Somehow Worse

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made a truly embarrassing slip of the tongue during his confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

Before being appointed acting attorney general in April, Blanche led the legal team defending Trump in his hush money criminal trial.

Blanche’s actions since he took over the job have raised concerns among some senators about his priorities.

Not only has he been accused of slow-rolling the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, but he helped negotiate a controversial settlement with the IRS over the release of Trump’s tax returns that, in part, ensures that neither the president nor his family will ever be audited.

Even more, Blanche once declared that if Trump “chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, ’Thank you very much. I love you, sir.’”

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) on Tuesday accused Blanche of acting as if he was still Trump’s personal attorney.

Then, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) asked Blanche point-blank, “Are you and President Trump friends?”

To which Blanche replied, “I’m his lawyer — was his lawyer, and now I’m the deputy attorney general.”

Kennedy: Are you and President Trump friends?

Blanche: I’m his lawyer—was his lawyer pic.twitter.com/V4P1fNezYT

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— Acyn (@Acyn) July 15, 2026

Despite Blanche quickly correcting himself, the damage may have already been done, judging by social media reactions.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in a post on X called the acting attorney general’s response to Kennedy’s question “an all-time Freudian slip and completely disqualifying.”

An all-time Freudian slip and completely disqualifying. https://t.co/AJKbfnyEcQ

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) July 15, 2026

Blanche can’t keep it straight.

I said it once, I’ll say it again: Acting AG Blanche isn’t acting on behalf of the American people. He’s ACTING like he’s still Trump’s personal lawyer. https://t.co/UNECufCG5c

— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) July 15, 2026

Ope. https://t.co/LbJVdZg6Hp

— Governor JB Pritzker (@GovPritzker) July 15, 2026

Blanche is using the DOJ to protect Trump – not the American people. https://t.co/G1vHiOHq1B

— Congressman Greg Landsman (@RepGregLandsman) July 15, 2026

The Attorney General is not the President’s personal lawyer. https://t.co/3MFlYXMexZ

— Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) July 15, 2026

No, he meant what he said the first time. He truly believes his job as AG will be to defend trump personally at the expense of the United States. https://t.co/TixtjSspL0

— Sarah Ironside 💙 (@SarahIronside6) July 15, 2026

But is the AG supposed to be the president’s lawyer https://t.co/qTPVzSXPmt

— Sean O’Neill (@SeanOhhhh) July 15, 2026

BINGO.
Blanche is still acting as Trump’s attorney and is using the DOJ’s power to protect him and others. https://t.co/0wvkKkj2wr pic.twitter.com/yVeHEJpB06

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— Tara Setmayer 🌻 🇺🇸 (@TaraSetmayer) July 15, 2026