Attorney General Todd Blanche stepped up to defend President Trump this week after the Supreme Court dealt his administration a setback by rejecting its push to impose new mail-ballot restrictions ahead of the midterms. Blanche said the president has every right to voice his frustration with the ruling, adding that it is far from the first time Trump has criticized the court and certainly won't be the last. His comments came even though three of the justices who ruled against the administration were appointed by Trump himself. Blanche stressed that despite the disagreement, the Justice Department has no intention of ignoring the court's decision.

Blanche confirmed the DOJ will comply with the ruling as it stands, even while continuing to pursue what he described as free and fair elections heading into November. He noted that Trump's frustration cuts both ways, pointing out the president has been quick to praise the same justices when their rulings go his way. The episode highlights the tension running through the administration's relationship with the judiciary, as legal fights over election rules continue to play out just weeks before voters head to the polls. Blanche's remarks suggest the fight over mail-in ballots is far from settled, even with the Supreme Court's latest word on the matter.