Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has offered his first comments after being named the acting attorney general following President Donald Trump’s decision to reassign Pam Bondi.
Trump announced the move on Thursday afternoon, calling Bondi a “loyal friend” and saying that she will move into a private sector role. In the short term, Blanche — who previously represented Trump in several court cases, including the Stormy Daniels scandal and the 2024 criminal defense trial — will serve as the interim AG. Trump referred to Blanche as a “very talented and respected Legal Mind” in his Truth Social post.
“Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction, and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship,” Blanche wrote on X. “Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General. We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing everything in our power to keep America safe.”
Pam Bondi led this Department with strength and conviction and I’m grateful for her leadership and friendship.
Thank you to President Trump for the trust and the opportunity to serve as Acting Attorney General.
We will continue backing the blue, enforcing the law, and doing… https://t.co/ourLJWGAqv
— Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) April 2, 2026
Meanwhile, Fox News’ Peter Doocy reported on Thursday afternoon that he does not believe there is “bad blood” between Trump and Bondi. Doocy said that he spoke directly with Trump on the phone shortly before the President’s announcement.
Originally from Colorado, Blanche obtained his bachelor’s degree at American University and pursued his law degree at Brooklyn Law School. He is also a former two-sport college athlete, having played basketball and baseball at Beloit College in Wisconsin.
Blanche worked as an assistant United States attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York from 2006 through 2014. He later joined WilmerHale as a partner in 2014 before moving to Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, again as a partner, three years later.
BREAKING: Attorney General Pam Bondi will be leaving her position, and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche will be replaced in the interim, according to Fox News.
Peter Doocy: “She is going to get a different job within the administration. It doesn’t seem like there is any bad… pic.twitter.com/2hhPh7fh7u
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) April 2, 2026
During that time, Blanche personally represented businessman Igor Fruman and attorney Boris Epshteyn in their respective court cases. It was Epshteyn who recommended Blanche join Trump’s defense teams ahead of the Daniels case in 2023.
Blanche followed Trump to the White House and was confirmed by the Senate as the deputy AG in March 2025. Although Trump appointed Blanche to serve as the Librarian of Congress last May, that role has been disputed by Robert Newlen, who argued that he should have received the position because he served as Carla Hayden’s principal deputy librarian.
Bondi is the second member of Trump’s cabinet to be reassigned within the last month. Trump named Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to be the first Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas in early March. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin officially replaced Noem on March 24.
