Donald Trump's nominee for a top Department of Justice post, Todd Blanche, is facing a serious threat to his confirmation after a key Republican senator said there would be "no deal" over his nomination. The dispute centres on Senator John Cornyn of Texas, whose support is seen as pivotal to Blanche's confirmation prospects, putting the nomination in genuine jeopardy despite Republican control of the Senate.

Blanche, who previously served as one of Trump's personal defence lawyers during his criminal trials, was nominated to a senior Justice Department role as part of the administration's push to install loyalists in key legal positions. The article does not provide further detail on the specific grievance driving Cornyn's opposition, but the "no deal" declaration signals a breakdown in negotiations that had been expected to smooth the nominee's path through the Senate.