President Donald Trump's nominees to be attorney general and director of national intelligence "should both be in pretty good shape" to be confirmed by the Senate, according to Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Speaking to the New York Post ahead of Wednesday's confirmation hearings, Thune expressed confidence that acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and DNI nominee Jay Clayton are on track for Senate approval before lawmakers leave for the August recess.

"I know Blanche's meetings are going really well," Thune told the Post. "Readouts have been real strong. And same thing with Clayton."

He added that, barring any surprises during the hearings, "they should both be in pretty good shape."

Blanche has served as acting attorney general since April after Trump elevated him from deputy attorney general to replace Pam Bondi.

A former personal attorney for Trump, Blanche initially faced skepticism from some Senate Republicans over a since-abandoned $1.776 billion Justice Department anti-weaponization fund.

According to CNN, Blanche has spent more than a week preparing for what is expected to be a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, emphasizing his record on combating gangs, drug trafficking, fraud, and illegal immigration while pushing back against Democrat claims that he lacks independence from the White House.

Key Republican senators, including Thom Tillis, R-N.C., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, have expressed reservations but described recent meetings with Blanche as productive.

Cornyn said he remains concerned about issues surrounding the now-defunct fund, while Tillis has said Blanche must demonstrate independence from the administration.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, highlighted broad support for Blanche, noting that police organizations representing more than 670,000 officers, Angel Families, and former DOJ officials from multiple administrations have endorsed his nomination.

Republicans have also invited former Attorney General John Ashcroft and other supporters to testify.

Democrats, meanwhile, plan to focus on Blanche's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and allegations that he used the DOJ to advance Trump's agenda.

Witnesses opposing the nomination include former DOJ official Liz Oyer and Epstein victim Dani Bensky, according to the Post and CNN.

Clayton, who previously won bipartisan confirmation to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission, is also expected to face pointed questions.

The New York Times reported senators are likely to press him about intelligence community independence and the Trump administration's push to declassify election-related intelligence ahead of the president's planned address.

Despite unified Democrat opposition, Thune said Senate Republicans remain on pace to advance both nominations, while criticizing Democrats for slowing confirmations through procedural delays.

He argued the GOP has continued moving nominees despite what he described as unprecedented obstruction.