# AG Todd Blanche Becomes De Facto Press Secretary, Breaking Norms

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/ag-todd-blanche-becomes-de-facto-press-secretary-breaking-norms
- Published: 2026-09-17T01:02:07.721801+00:00
- Topics: justice-department, white-house, election-integrity, ai-regulation, press-briefing

## What the left says
- An Attorney General holding regular White House press briefings blurs the traditional separation between the Justice Department and political communications, raising concerns about the DOJ's independence.
- Blanche's dodges on questions like the diGenova resignation illustrate how using a sitting AG as spokesperson can shield sensitive personnel and legal matters from proper scrutiny.
- Framing Democratic concerns about AI regulation as a midterm 'hoax' rather than engaging substantively suggests the administration is using the briefing platform to score political points rather than inform the public.
- The repeated absence of a permanent press secretary since Karoline Leavitt's resignation signals instability in the administration's communications structure.

## What the right says
- Cabinet officials stepping in to brief the press reflects an administration willing to have its most knowledgeable officials directly engage with reporters rather than filtering everything through a single spokesperson.
- Blanche used the briefing to highlight concrete law enforcement achievements, including noncitizen voting prosecutions and a major daycare fraud bust, showing the administration's results on election integrity and public corruption.
- The administration affirms it will comply with the Supreme Court's mail-in ballot ruling, demonstrating respect for judicial authority even while continuing related legal efforts.
- Criticism of sudden Democratic focus on AI regulation ahead of midterms is framed as pointing out political opportunism rather than genuine policy concern, especially given the importance of staying competitive with China.

## Common ground
- Todd Blanche, the sitting Attorney General, took the podium in the Rose Garden on Tuesday to brief reporters, marking only the second such briefing since Karoline Leavitt's resignation.
- The briefing covered a range of topics including election integrity, noncitizen voting prosecutions, AI regulation, and the Supreme Court's mail-in ballot ruling.
- Blanche declined to answer directly whether he asked for Joe diGenova's resignation from the Justice Department.
- This arrangement, with cabinet officials like Blanche and Vice President Vance filling the press secretary role, departs from the traditional norm of a dedicated White House press secretary.

## Sources
- [Daily Wire](https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-live-karoline-leavitt-briefs-press-as-iran-troop-deployment-rumors-swirl) (Right)
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/beckynoble/2026/09/15/us-ag-todd-blanche-holds-white-house-press-briefing-discusses-that-thing-that-never-happens-n2206964) (Unknown)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/analysis/6091704-attorney-general-blanche-press-briefing/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6091227-blanche-dodges-digenova-resignation-question/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/6089511-live-updates-trump-blanche-kash-patel-senate/) (Center)
- [The Hill](https://thehill.com/video-clips/6090603-watch-live-todd-blanche-doj-rose-garden-press-briefing/) (Center)
- [Townhall](https://townhall.com/news/cameron-arcand/2026/09/15/blanche-tackles-ai-panic-mail-in-ballots-during-rare-rose-garden-briefing-n2683025) (Right)

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