{"id":12974,"date":"2026-05-19T18:23:12","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:23:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/05\/19\/live-updates-trump-says-he-is-holding-off-on-new-iran-attack-for-only-a-limited-period-of-time-cnn\/"},"modified":"2026-05-19T18:23:12","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:23:12","slug":"live-updates-trump-says-he-is-holding-off-on-new-iran-attack-for-only-a-limited-period-of-time-cnn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/05\/19\/live-updates-trump-says-he-is-holding-off-on-new-iran-attack-for-only-a-limited-period-of-time-cnn\/","title":{"rendered":"Live updates: Trump says he is holding off on new Iran attack for only a \u2018limited period of time\u2019 – CNN"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/2026-05-19t174045z-322083555-rc2hclasqixa-rtrmadp-3-usa-trump.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/2026-05-19t174045z-322083555-rc2hclasqixa-rtrmadp-3-usa-trump.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n
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By ONTARIA WOODS<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 2:12 PM EDT, Tue May 19, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed data-network-id data-publish-date=”2024-09-12T19:45:04.000Z” data-video-section=”homepage” data-canonical-url=”https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/videos\/cvplive\/cvpstream1″ data-branding-key data-video-slug=”livestream-live-1″ data-first-publish-slug=”live-1″ data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details data-track-zone=”top” data-sticky-anchor-pos=”bottom” data-tabcontent=”Content”> <\/p>\n

\"Vice<\/picture> <\/div>\n
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Vice President JD Vance speaks at White House press briefing <\/p>\n

\u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Vice<\/picture> <\/div>\n
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Vice President JD Vance speaks at White House press briefing<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2022 NOW: <\/strong>Vice President JD Vance is holding a press briefing from the White House. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Iran war: <\/strong>President Donald Trump told reporters that he was \u201can hour away\u201d from making the decision to launch new strikes on Iran<\/a> before he postponed an attack yesterday at the request of three Arab states in the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, the head of US Central Command<\/a> was pressed on Capitol Hill about plans to end the United States\u2019 conflict with Iran..<\/strong> <\/p>\n

\u2022 Justice Department fund<\/strong>: In testimony before a Senate appropriations panel, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche denied that the creation of a $1.776 billion fund<\/a> to compensate Trump allies who claim they were targeted by the previous administration is unprecedented or unwarranted. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Vice President JD Vance said that Russia taking possession of Iran\u2019s enriched uranium as part of negotiations to end the war is \u201cnot currently\u201d the US plan. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat is not currently our plan. That has never been our plan. I\u2019ve seen some reporting on that. I don\u2019t know where it comes from,\u201d Vance told reporters at a White House briefing on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

Vance suggested such an arrangement would likely face resistance from both Washington and Tehran. <\/p>\n

\u201cSo, that is not currently the plan of the United States government. The Iranians have not raised it. My sense is that it\u2019s not something the Iranians would be particularly excited about, and I know the president isn\u2019t particularly excited about it either,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

But the vice president said he would not make pre-commitments in a negotiation \u201con any particular topic.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Vice<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Vice President JD Vance said he continues to see fractures within Iran\u2019s leadership and that Tehran\u2019s negotiating position is unclear as the Trump administration works toward a deal to end the war. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Iranians aren\u2019t themselves quite clear in what direction they want to go to, they also are just a fractured country,\u201d Vance told reporters at the White House. <\/p>\n

Vance said it wasn\u2019t clear whether the divisions were the product of bad communication or bad faith, but that the result was a muddled process. <\/p>\n

\u201cI will say with confidence it\u2019s sometimes hard to figure out exactly what it is that the Iranians want to accomplish out of the negotiation,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Vice President JD Vance is holding a briefing at the White House. <\/p>\n

We\u2019ll bring you updates as we get them. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Daniel<\/picture> <\/div>\n

A senior Pentagon official declined to say whether the Trump administration would rule out putting US boots on the ground in Iran and did not say whether it would seek congressional authorization to restart operations against Tehran. <\/p>\n

\u201cAre we reinitiating offensive combat operations?\u201d Rep. Patrick Ryan asked during a House Armed Services Committee hearing Tuesday. <\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, that decision is the president\u2019s to make,\u201d responded Daniel Zimmerman, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs. <\/p>\n

\u201cIs that an option that\u2019s been briefed to him?\u201d Ryan asked. <\/p>\n

\u201cWell, Mr. Congressman, it\u2019s his decision to make,\u201d Zimmerman said. <\/p>\n

\u201cAre you planning to ask Congress this time for a declaration or an authorization now that we\u2019re almost three months in?\u201d Ryan pressed. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs you know, right now there are negotiations going on at the highest order to try to achieve a long-term solution,\u201d Zimmerman said. He also declined to say whether one of the options going forward would put US military forces on the ground in Iran, saying President Donald Trump \u201cretains the options at his disposal.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump told reporters earlier that the restarting of military operations against Iran was \u201can hour away\u201d before he called it off after speaking with Gulf nation leaders. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Adm.<\/picture> <\/div>\n

The US military\u2019s commander of forces in the Middle East got into a heated exchange with Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton, in which Moulton pressed him repeatedly on the success of the United States\u2019 war with Iran thus far. <\/p>\n

Moulton pressed Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command, about the change of leadership in Iran, oil sanctions, and the Strait of Hormuz \u2014 which Cooper repeatedly said were policy decisions that he was not involved in as a military commander. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the plan now? What\u2019s the plan now to actually win this war? Because it feels like we\u2019re losing. We don\u2019t have a nuclear deal, we don\u2019t have the strait open, the president has called for unconditional surrender, is that part of the plan?\u201d Moulton said. <\/p>\n

\u201cCongressman, we achieved all our military objectives, we are presently in a ceasefire, we\u2019re executing a blockade, and we\u2019re prepared for a broad range of contingencies,\u201d Cooper said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s an entirely inappropriate statement from you sir, with all due respect,\u201d Cooper responded. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not a statement; it\u2019s a question,\u201d Moulton said. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Sen.<\/picture> <\/div>\n

Several GOP senators expressed uneasiness with the possibility that January 6 rioters could get money from the nearly $1.8 billion fund the Justice Department announced to compensate those who felt they had been targeted by previous administrations. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was here on January 6th. This was not a peaceful protest, it was a riot. It was a bad, bad day for our country,\u201d Sen. Mike Rounds<\/strong> told CNN Tuesday. \u201cLook, if you\u2019re going to put together a fund, then let\u2019s make sure that there\u2019s a judicial oversight to it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Rounds said he had \u201cno sympathy\u201d for those who stormed the Capitol, and noted while the Trump administration can do what they want, \u201cin Congress, we still control the purse strings.\u201d <\/p>\n

Top GOP appropriator Sen. Susan Collins<\/strong> said she has more questions about the fund after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told her Tuesday that there were \u201cno limitations\u201d on claims made to DOJ. <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know what the criteria are going to be at this point, but certainly it raises a lot of important questions that need to be answered. It is highly irregular, and this is not something that should be put in place without a lot more scrutiny,\u201d she told CNN. <\/p>\n

Asked if she personally thought January 6 rioters should be eligible, Collins responded, \u201cI do not, if they have been convicted. I do not. If they engaged in violence against police officers, I do not.\u201d <\/p>\n

Sen. Lisa Murkowski<\/strong> said Blanche\u2019s testimony \u201chas actually raised more questions for me than answered them,\u201d in terms of \u201cwhere this 1.8 billion comes from, the commission, how it\u2019s determined, the eligibility, so a lot that we need to know.\u201d <\/p>\n

Asked by CNN if she\u2019s comfortable with January 6 rioters receiving money, she firmly said, \u201cno.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"President<\/picture> <\/div>\n

President Donald Trump said he thinks the US war with Iran is popular and that even if it\u2019s not, stopping Tehran from having a nuclear weapon is a worthwhile mission. <\/p>\n

\u201cLook, everyone tells me it\u2019s unpopular, but I think it\u2019s very popular when you, when they hear that it\u2019s having to do with nuclear weapons, weapons that could take out Los Angeles, could take out major cities very quick,\u201d he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhether it\u2019s popular or not popular, I have to do it, because I\u2019m not going to let the world be blown up on my watch,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIt\u2019s not going to happen.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump also called higher oil prices, which have led to some GOP concerns heading into the midterms, \u201cpeanuts.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd this is peanuts, and I appreciate everybody putting up with it for a little while. It won\u2019t be much longer, but you could have, frankly, there is so much oil out there,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

A recent CNN poll<\/a> showed 77% \u2013 including a majority of Republicans \u2013 say that Trump\u2019s policies have increased the cost of living<\/a> in their own community <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune said this morning that he\u2019s \u201cnot a big fan\u201d of the $1.776 billion fund<\/a> for allies of the president that was announced this week. <\/p>\n

The Department of Justice on Monday announced the creation of the fund to compensate President Donald Trump\u2019s allies who claim they were unfairly targeted by the previous administration. <\/p>\n

Thune was asked whether there should be guardrails to ensure January 6, 2021, rioters aren\u2019t compensated from the proposed fund. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy assumption is that, based on some of the blowback that\u2019s come since this was announced, that there would be a significant amount of attention paid to it,\u201d he said, noting he expects that scrutiny to happen during the annual appropriations process that is just getting started. <\/p>\n

Lawmakers have so far been hesitant to publicly back the fund. <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with additional reporting.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Senate<\/picture> <\/div>\n

President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the parliamentarian and her decision on the White House ballroom funding in a call to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, according to a source familiar with the matter. <\/p>\n

It comes after Senate Democrats said Saturday the provision<\/a> that funds Trump\u2019s ballroom in the GOP\u2019s latest budget bill was deemed out of order by the Senate parliamentarian \u2013 the chamber\u2019s rules referee \u2013 marking a major blow to the president\u2019s priority. <\/p>\n

The White House has said the money would be put toward security for the East Wing project. The ballroom funding totals about $220 million, according to a memo sent from the White House to members of Congress, but comes as part of a $1 billion security funding request. <\/p>\n

Thune refused to comment to reporters on the content of any discussion with Trump over possibly firing the parliamentarian. <\/p>\n

But when asked by CNN if he might fire her or move to override her decision, the Republican leader said, \u201cI haven\u2019t had any discussions or conversations about that.\u201d <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with additional reporting.<\/em> <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Ted Barrett contributed to this post. <\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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In his first appearance before Congress since taking the reins of the Justice Department, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was big on civility, but short on details as he faced tough questions from members of both parties about the nearly $1.8 billion he announced will be available to people who believe they have been wrongly targeted by the Justice Department. <\/p>\n

Blanche is still effectively auditioning to be Trump\u2019s permanent Attorney General and while the president likes his officials to adopt a combative posture when challenged, Blanche maintained a mostly congenial tone throughout the hearing. <\/p>\n

At the outset, Blanche conceded that the fund is \u201cunusual,\u201d but dodged questions about specifics and whether even those who assaulted law enforcement officers on January 6, 2021 would be eligible for a payout. <\/p>\n

His largely civil appearance was a contrast to his predecessor former Attorney General Pam Bondi\u2019s last appearance before Congress, which garnered attention because of her over-the-top exchanges with lawmakers<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the administration is seeking $10.3 billion for the Bureau of Prisons, making the case that the agency \u201cremains under-resourced.\u201d <\/p>\n

The current $8.1 billion budget is insufficient, Blanche told congressional lawmakers, adding that the bureau \u201crisks insolvency without additional support.\u201d <\/p>\n

When asked by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a New Hampshire Democrat, to explain how he plans to use the additional funds, Blanche said it would go toward staff retention by paying employees more to \u201cmake it worthwhile for them to stay.\u201d <\/p>\n

Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, also pressed Blanche on the Bureau of Prisons, asking him to describe the issues at the agency. <\/p>\n

Blanche went on to again emphasize the need to invest in staff retention, stating that there is a 20% vacancy rate for corrections officers. He told lawmakers that $450 million from the requested funding will be used \u201cto attack the vacancy rate.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of money\u201d will also be used for safety and structural repairs, Blanche added. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump teased an endorsement in the race for US Senate in Texas, saying it will come later Tuesday after remaining neutral in the race. <\/p>\n

Sen. John Cornyn and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are embroiled<\/a> in a competitive Republican primary runoff set for May 26. Trump said two months he would \u201csoon\u201d endorse one of the candidates. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to be making an endorsement at about 12:30, 1 o\u2019clock today for the big race, the Senate race in Texas, and I hope you find it good,\u201d Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. <\/p>\n

He added: \u201cThere are those that say whoever I endorse is going to win. I don\u2019t know if that\u2019s true, but historically, that\u2019s absolutely true.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump said he has had his \u201cmind made up for a long time\u201d on his candidate, but declined to say who he would endorse. <\/p>\n

He later added that he \u201cpretty much always\u201d had known who he would choose. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just thought this was a good time, you know, the voting starting,\u201d he told CNN\u2019s Alayna Treene. <\/p>\n

Some context:<\/strong> While Democrats haven\u2019t won statewide in Texas since 1994, they have a Senate nominee in state Rep. James Talarico<\/a> who is energizing liberals ahead of the November midterms and raising massive sums<\/a>. Republicans long wanted to avoid a damaging runoff that could make things easier for Talarico, in part by having Trump boost one candidate and pressure the other to back down. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump praised a daylong prayer event<\/a> in Washington that had been attended by administration officials, tying his priorities directly to efforts to revitalize enthusiasm for Christianity. <\/p>\n

\u201cChristianity, it\u2019s a great thing for our country,\u201d he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. \u201cThe successes that we\u2019ve had have been based on Christianity and religion, so I\u2019m very proud of that.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s remarks followed a prayer event over the weekend held as part of the nation\u2019s 250th anniversary celebrations, which featured appearances from Trump officials and Republican lawmakers. The event prompted some criticism over the appearance of blurring lines between religion and politics. <\/p>\n

But Trump hailed it as a \u201cbeautiful day,\u201d while taking credit for making religion more popular<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou look at churches today, they\u2019re full,\u201d he said. \u201cYou go back two, three years, nobody was going. So we\u2019re very happy.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he was on the verge of launching new strikes on Iran before he postponed the attack<\/a> yesterday at the request of three Arab states in the Persian Gulf. <\/p>\n

\u201cI was an hour away; we were all set to go,\u201d he told CNN\u2019s Alayna Treene at the White House. \u201cIt would\u2019ve been happening right now.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social that he postponed the attack after the leaders of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar urged him to hold off in hopes of advancing negotiations toward a diplomatic solution. <\/p>\n

The president said he spoke with the Arab states over two days while contemplating renewed strikes, saying, \u201cWe\u2019re all working together.\u201d He said the nations called him to say that \u201cthey made a lot of progress\u201d toward negotiations with Iran. <\/p>\n

Pressed on leaders\u2019 concerns that renewed US strikes could prompt Iran to retaliate against their nations, Trump acknowledged that it remained a risk. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey still have a little capacity,\u201d he said of Iran\u2019s ability to attack others in the Middle East. \u201cNot much, but they have a little.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump added that he was willing to wait until later this week to see whether talks progressed, but continued to warn that he could resume combat operations. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe may have to give them another big hit,\u201d he said of Iran. <\/p>\n

This post has been updated with additional information. <\/em> <\/p>\n

CNN\u2019s Aileen Graef contributed to this post.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump put a limited timeline on his decision to temporarily pause planned attacks on Iran<\/a> as negotiators in the region work toward a potential peace deal. <\/p>\n

Trump, who has grown increasingly frustrated with the state of negotiations, said in a social media post Monday that he will \u201chold off\u201d on a Tuesday plan to attack Iran, citing a request from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. On Tuesday, he said that would last for \u201ca limited period of time.\u201d <\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cI\u2019m saying two or three days, maybe Friday, Saturday, Sunday, something, maybe early next week \u2014 a limited period of time. Because we can\u2019t let them have a new nuclear weapon.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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President Donald Trump unexpectedly corralled reporters to view construction of his sprawling East Wing ballroom Tuesday, pitching the security necessity as congressional funding is in jeopardy. <\/p>\n

The provision in the GOP\u2019s latest budget bill that that would fund security for the ballroom was recently deemed out of order<\/a> by the Senate parliamentarian, marking a major blow to the president\u2019s priority. Trump expressed frustration with the parliamentarian in a call with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, CNN reported earlier Tuesday. <\/p>\n

The president attempted to explain the distinction between different funding mechanisms for the ballroom, which the White House has said would be funded by private donors, including<\/a> Apple, Amazon, Lockheed Martin, and Meta. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a gift. This is not going to be paid for by the taxpayer,\u201d Trump said over the loud noise of the construction site. <\/p>\n

But the White House is also seeking $220 million to put toward security for the project, according to a memo it sent to members of Congress. <\/p>\n

Congress, Trump said, \u201cis approving money for security.\u201d He added: \u201cIt may go, some of it may go here for additional security. I don\u2019t know, but Congress is approving money.\u201d <\/p>\n

Trump pointed to security features including \u201cvery powerful concrete\u201d and \u201cdrone capacity,\u201d describing the ballroom on top as a \u201cshield.\u201d <\/p>\n

There have been few details released about what officials have previously described<\/a> as a \u201ctop-secret\u201d underground project to rebuild the White House bunker, but CNN has reported that the space is likely being reimagined and replaced with new technology to counter evolving threats. <\/p>\n

Trump said Tuesday the new complex would also include a military hospital, research facilities and meeting rooms, noting that the size of the new space was doubled \u201cat the request of the military.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, when asked about whether the Justice Department had an open investigations related Jeffrey Epstein, said sharply: \u201cHe\u2019s dead.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cAny investigation into potential other bad guys will always be open if we have evidence that supports in any way, shape, or form that we can make a case,\u201d Blanche added when asked about the case tied to his predecessor Pam Bondi\u2019s <\/a>firing. <\/p>\n

When pressed, Blanche said he wouldn\u2019t base investigations off political affiliation, something Democratic lawmakers remain unconvinced about. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis president has repeatedly spoken of an enemies list that he wants to go after, and I must say it\u2019s one of the symbols of the breakdown of a democratic republic,\u201d Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley said following Blanche\u2019s commitment to nonpartisanship. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money, even January 6 rioters<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”00:33″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/videothumbnails\/04024730-32905835-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/videothumbnails\/04024730-32905835-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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By Dugald McConnell<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Updated 2:12 PM EDT, Tue May 19, 2026 <\/div>\n

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money, even January 6 rioters<\/p>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-05-19T15:20:45.626Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”blanche-says-anyone-can-apply-for-anti-weaponization-fund-money” data-first-publish-slug=”blanche-says-anyone-can-apply-for-anti-weaponization-fund-money” data-video-tags data-media-metadata=”{“adKeyValuePairs”:{“spec”:”default”},”boltId”:”845ba93f-3d4b-5e87-bce8-be0447a6867f”,”branding”:”default”,”cepFedSegs”:”wbd:15PN,wbd:5L81,wbd:15LP,wbd:15HT,wbd:16BC,wbd:2PCG,wbd:2JP5,wbd:2PCF,wbd:2PC9,wbd:NX,wbd:FBL,wbd:7JY,wbd:F8T,wbd:CCP7Z,wbd:7FHL,wbd:55G,wbd:DFT,wbd:DHX,wbd:7WN,wbd:D7V,wbd:D70,wbd:CW1″,”cepParams”:”15PN=cep_brsf&5L81=cep_brsf&15LP=cep_brsf&15HT=cep_iabt&16BC=cep_sent&2PCG=cep_tags&2JP5=cep_tags&2PCF=cep_tags&2PC9=cep_tags&NX=cep_tags&FBL=cep_tags&7JY=cep_tags&F8T=cep_tags&CCP7Z=cep_tags&7FHL=cep_tags&55G=cep_tags&DFT=cep_tags&DHX=cep_tags&7WN=cep_tags&D7V=cep_tags&D70=cep_tags&CW1=cep_tags”,”cepTopics”:{“15PN”:”cep_brsf”,”5L81″:”cep_brsf”,”15LP”:”cep_brsf”,”15HT”:”cep_iabt”,”16BC”:”cep_sent”,”2PCG”:”cep_tags”,”2JP5″:”cep_tags”,”2PCF”:”cep_tags”,”2PC9″:”cep_tags”,”NX”:”cep_tags”,”FBL”:”cep_tags”,”7JY”:”cep_tags”,”F8T”:”cep_tags”,”CCP7Z”:”cep_tags”,”7FHL”:”cep_tags”,”55G”:”cep_tags”,”DFT”:”cep_tags”,”DHX”:”cep_tags”,”7WN”:”cep_tags”,”D7V”:”cep_tags”,”D70″:”cep_tags”,”CW1″:”cep_tags”},”description”:”<\/p>\n

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money, even January 6 rioters<\/p>\n

“,”firstPublishSlug”:”blanche-says-anyone-can-apply-for-anti-weaponization-fund-money”,”headline”:”Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money”,”id”:”me2371da8d57bbc210b64fc99ed8b5d79bfbfb625f”,”isAdSensitive”:true,”mediumId”:”me2371da8d57bbc210b64fc99ed8b5d79bfbfb625f”,”sectionName”:”politics”,”source”:”CNN”,”stellarId”:”L19jb21wb25lbnRzL3ZpZGVvLXJlc291cmNlL2luc3RhbmNlcy9jbXBjczBraXYwMDAwM2o2cTBodzM2aXpp”,”trt”:”33.634″,”videoTags”:[],”videoUrl”:””}”> \"\n\n<pAttorney General Todd Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money, even January 6 rioters<\/p>\n

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Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money <\/p>\n

0:33 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"\n\n<pAttorney General Todd Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money, even January 6 rioters<\/p>\n

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Blanche says anyone can apply for “anti-weaponization” fund money<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

0:33 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that anyone who feels they were unfairly prosecuted can submit a claim to the newly establish anti-weaponization fund, including those who accuse the President Donald Trump and Republican-led Justice Department of wrongdoing. <\/p>\n

When the Justice Department announced the nearly $1.8 billion fund Monday, it was quickly criticized as a way to enrich the president\u2019s allies and supporters who were prosecuted by the Biden administration, US Capitol rioters and others. <\/p>\n

Under questioning from Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Blanche said that the fund is \u201cnot limited to Republicans, it\u2019s not limited to the Biden weaponization, it\u2019s not limited in any way, scope or form to January 6 or to Jack Smith\u201d Blanche said. \u201cThere\u2019s no limitation on the on the claims.\u201d <\/p>\n

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen pushed Blanche on his answer, asking whether those who assaulted law enforcement at the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot could apply. <\/p>\n

\u201cAs was made plain yesterday, anybody in this country is eligible to apply if they believe they were victim weaponization,\u201d Blanche said. <\/p>\n

Blanche also said that it would be up to the commissioners of the fund to decide whether those convicted assaulted law enforcement at the Capitol riot could receive a payment. <\/p>\n

\u201cI will definitely encourage the commissioners to take everything into account when determining who should get compensation,\u201d Blanche said. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut why not this specific issue of [being] convicted of violent acts against police officers,\u201d Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley asked. \u201cYou feel they should get compensation after being convicted of violent acts\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cMy feelings don\u2019t, don\u2019t matter, Senator,\u201d Blanche said. <\/p>\n

The fund will be run by a commission whose members are chosen by Blanche and who can be fired by the president at any time<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said that members of President Donald Trump\u2019s family will not be able to receive money from the massive new settlement fund that was born out of a lawsuit Trump brought against the federal government. <\/p>\n

The assurance to Democratic Sen. Chris Coons comes a day after the Justice Department said Trump, one of his sons, and the Trump Organization \u2014 all of whom were plaintiffs in the case \u2014 \u201cwill receive a formal apology but no monetary payment or damages of any kind\u201d as part of the settlement, which established a nearly $1.8 billion fund of taxpayer money for people who say they were wrongly targeted by previous administration to tap into. <\/p>\n

Blanche went on to say that \u201canybody can apply\u201d to receive money from the fund, but that it would be up to a five-member commission to determine who will actually benefit from it. <\/p>\n

Sen. Chris Coons D-Md presses Acting A.G. Todd Blanche on whether “anti-weaponization” fund money might go to President Trump’s campaign donors, Proud Boys, or Oath Keepers.<\/p>\n

” data-duration=”02:13″ data-source-html=” \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span>” data-fave-thumbnails=”{“big”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/videothumbnails\/06302758-31283689-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” }, “small”: { “uri”: “https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/videothumbnails\/06302758-31283689-generated-thumbnail.jpg?c=16×9&q=h_540,w_960,c_fill” } }” data-vr-video=”false” data-show-html=”” data-byline-html=”<\/p>\n

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By Dugald McConnell<\/span>, CNN <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

” data-timestamp-html=”<\/p>\n

Updated 2:12 PM EDT, Tue May 19, 2026 <\/div>\n

” data-check-event-based-preview data-is-vertical-video-embed=”false” data-network-id data-publish-date=”2026-05-19T15:58:38.321Z” data-video-section=”politics” data-canonical-url data-branding-key data-video-slug=”democratic-senators-question-anti-weaponization-fund” data-first-publish-slug=”democratic-senators-question-anti-weaponization-fund” data-video-tags data-breakpoints=”{“video-resource–media-extra-large”: 660}” data-display-video-cover=”true” data-details> <\/p>\n

Sen. Chris Coons D-Md presses Acting A.G. Todd Blanche on whether “anti-weaponization” fund money might go to President Trump’s campaign donors, Proud Boys, or Oath Keepers.<\/p>\n

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Sen. Chris Coons D-Md presses Acting A.G. Todd Blanche on whether “anti-weaponization” fund money might go to President Trump’s campaign donors, Proud Boys, or Oath Keepers.<\/p>\n

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Democratic Senators question “anti-weaponization” fund <\/p>\n

2:13 <\/span> \u2022 Source: CNN<\/a> <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"\n\n<pSen. Chris Coons D-Md presses Acting A.G. Todd Blanche on whether “anti-weaponization” fund money might go to President Trump’s campaign donors, Proud Boys, or Oath Keepers.<\/p>\n

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Democratic Senators question “anti-weaponization” fund<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

2:13 <\/span> <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche equated the anti-weaponization fund announced by Justice Department, styled as an agreement to resolve President Donald Trump\u2019s $10 billion lawsuit against IRS, to an Obama-era fund set up in a case brought by Native American farmers alleging discrimination by the Department of Agriculture that offered funding to organizations supporting those tribal communities. <\/p>\n

But there are key differents between the two programs: <\/p>\n

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