Trump publicly praised acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in May 2026, saying the lawyer 'kept me out of jail for years.' The quote is verified—multiple outlets including Mediaite and indy100 confirmed Trump made this statement during a White House dinner speech to law enforcement officials. The comment drew immediate scrutiny because it amounts to Trump acknowledging Blanche's role in preventing criminal consequences, which underscores the political nature of DOJ leadership under Trump's second term and the unusual directness of Trump crediting a government official with personal legal benefit.