In a move that has sent ripples through the corridors of power, President-elect Donald Trump is set to nominate Todd Blanche as his permanent attorney general. The announcement, expected imminently, elevates a figure deeply embedded in the legal battles that have defined Trump’s post-presidency. But for those of us watching the economy from the kitchen table, this nomination raises troubling questions about the direction of justice for working families.
Blanche, a former federal prosecutor who represented Trump in his recent legal trials, is seen as a loyalist. But loyalty to one man does not guarantee loyalty to the millions who rely on the Department of Justice to enforce labour laws, protect fair wages, and hold corporate power to account. His track record is thin on economic justice issues. There is no evidence he has championed the rights of unions or fought for the minimum wage. Instead, his career has been defined by high-profile criminal defence work, a world away from the bread-and-butter concerns of the North.
This nomination is not just a personnel choice. It signals a return to a style of governance that prioritises personal loyalty over institutional integrity. For communities already feeling the sting of regional inequality, the message is clear: the justice department may not have their back when it comes to cracking down on wage theft, union busting, or exploitative contracts. The Department of Justice under a permanent Attorney General Blanche could step back from antitrust enforcement, leaving big business to tighten its stranglehold on local economies.
Union leaders have already expressed caution. 'This is a man who has spent his career defending the powerful,' said a spokesperson for the Trades Union Congress. 'Workers need an attorney general who understands that justice includes a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. We have seen no evidence that Blanche holds those values.'
Meanwhile, the cost of living crisis shows no sign of abating. Real wages have stagnated for years. The price of a loaf of bread has risen faster than pay packets in the North. A political appointee who has never shown interest in the mechanics of the real economy is hardly the champion we need.
This is a live story. The nomination is not yet official, but sources close to the transition team confirm the decision is all but made. If confirmed, Blanche will inherit an agency with immense power to shape the economic landscape. Will he use it to level the playing field? Or to protect those who have already won the game?
We will be watching closely. For now, working families should brace for a justice system that may drift further from their needs. The fight for a fair economy just got a new adversary.
