Blanche Pledges DOJ Respect for Judiciary, Reversing His 2025 'War' Line

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Aug 13

Thursday’s DOJ address marked a sharp rhetorical shift: Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department will “always respect the role of the judiciary” and reject “performative attacks” on the courts.
That stance contrasted with Blanche’s November 2025 Federalist Society remarks, when he described clashes with judges over Trump policies as “a war” and denounced “rogue activist judges.”
Blanche also softened his broader message, praising career DOJ staff and promising to back employees who “do the right thing,” while omitting the direct attacks on prior administrations he made as recently as Wednesday.
Former DOJ employees said the new tone clashes with reality, arguing hundreds of career staff have been fired and thousands more have left under leadership they say has violated the principles Blanche now invoked.