John Cornyn

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche's involvement in a settlement shielding President Donald Trump from tax audits has concerned key Republican senators playing a pivotal role in his confirmation.

Senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis, both of whom are retiring after clashes with Trump, have committed to blocking Blanche's advancement out of the Judiciary Committee, where full Republican support is required. The president threatened Thursday to pull Blanche's nomination until the next Congress begins—and allow him to continue serving unofficially—prompting Cornyn to clarify the extent of the GOP's unease.

"POTUS is mistaken if he believes concerns about the provisions in his tax lawsuit settlement are limited to me and Senator Tillis," he said in an X post.

The agreement signed by Blanche grants the president, his two oldest sons and The Trump Organization immunity from tax audits and creates a $1.8 billion fund for so-called victims of government "weaponization." Blanche has testified on the reserve's closure and declared the settlement applicable only to the Trump family's past filings, but Cornyn has demanded written changes to the agreement.

The president, who hasn't returned The National News Desk's request for comment, could enforce the deal's provisions if he wants to.