Donald Trump sparked controversy again after publicly praising acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, saying the lawyer had “kept him out of jail for years.”
The statement was made last Monday (11), during a Police Week event at the White House. While introducing Blanche, Trump said: “We have a man who is doing a great job. I knew it, because he kept me out of jail for years.”
The comment quickly spread across social media and among critics of the president, who pointed to the remark as an implicit admission of previous legal problems. “Saying someone kept you out of prison usually means you did something that would have sent most people to prison,” one X user said.
“Admitting he did things he should have been imprisoned for. It’s a start,” another said. “It’s hard to believe he really said that,” a third internet user observed. “Wow, talk about consciousness of guilt. You should stay out of prison because you never committed a crime, not because you have a clever lawyer,” another argued.
Todd Blanche served as Trump’s personal lawyer in several criminal cases involving the Republican before taking positions at the Department of Justice. In 2025, he was confirmed as deputy attorney general and, in April 2026, became acting head of the department after the departure of Pam Bondi.
The president’s comment came amid a period of intense political tension in the United States, with growing criticism over the influence of Trump’s close allies within the Department of Justice. Blanche has also been the target of controversies related to investigations involving political opponents and the handling of documents linked to the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Trump: “We have a man who is doing a great job. I knew it! Because he kept me out of jail for years. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. He kept me out of jail.” pic.twitter.com/6kaR3mSTog
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 11, 2026
Photo and video: Creative Commons / X @atrupar. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
