Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., was elected by Republicans Wednesday to be the party’s first new Senate leader in nearly two decades—despite some MAGA Republicans pushing for a more fervent supporter of the president-elect as opposed to Thune, who endorsed Donald Trump this cycle but broke with him in the past.
Sen. John Thune (R-SD) speaks after being elected Senate Majority Leader for the 119th Congress ... [+]
Thune and Trump’s relationship began in 2016 when—after endorsing him for president months earlier—Thune became the first Republican leader to call on Trump to withdraw from the presidential race after the infamous Access Hollywood tape was made public.
Shortly after calling on Trump to leave the race and give the nomination to then-vice presidential candidate Mike Pence, Thune said he would still “support the nominee of our party … but he’s got a lot of work to do, I think, if he’s going to have any hope of winning this election.”
The pair hit another road bump in 2020 when Trump maintained the election was stolen, but Thune encouraged people to “move on” and accept the outcome.
Thune also said any attempt by House conservatives to challenge the results of the Electoral College would “go down like a shot dog”—the comments drew ire from Trump, who said on Twitter Thune’s “political career (is) over!!!” and “South Dakota doesn’t like weakness.”
Trump later encouraged South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to run against Thune—who he called a “RINO,” or Republican in name only—when he was up for reelection in 2022 (Noem had previously said Thune “is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him.”)
Thune did not vote to convict Trump in either of his impeachment trials, but issued a harsh statement after the second one stating his vote to acquit Trump was not “an exoneration for his conduct on” Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump did not endorse Thune during his reelection bid in 2022 and after Thune won, he said the broad Republican losses were evidence the party couldn’t rely on Trump, saying “You can’t have a party that’s built around one person’s personality.”
This election season, Thune initially endorsed Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., for president but later backed Trump, saying in February “I support former President Trump's campaign to win the presidency, and I intend to do everything I can to see that he has a Republican majority in the Senate working with him to restore American strength at home and abroad.”
The Wall Street Journal reported Thune met with Trump in March at Mar-a-Lago to defuse tension, and Thune told the Journal the pair has “an understanding, and it’s professional,” adding: “we’re going to need to work together for the good of the country.”
After being elected Wednesday, Thune released a statement saying he was “extremely honored” and that the “Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda.”
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“What former President Trump did to undermine faith in our election system and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power is inexcusable,” Thune said in the Feb. 13, 2021 statement released after Trump’s second impeachment trial.
Trump did not endorse a senator in the election for the new Republican leader, but said in a post on Truth Social the next leader “must agree to allow recess appointments,” or temporary appointments made by the president without Senate approval when it's in recess.
Thune defeated Florida’s Sen. Rick Scott—a right-wing firebrand who received endorsements from Trump allies Elon Musk and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., but was knocked out in the first vote—and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. Thune was first elected to the Senate in 2004 and has held the No. 2 Senate Republican position of whip since 2019. Thune will replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., a key ally of his who is retiring as the party’s Senate leader after 18 years. Thune’s victory comes as Republicans are likely to secure a “trifecta” by taking control of the presidency, House and Senate—though control of the House has not yet been called—which will likely make it easier for Republicans to pass their agenda.
- That’s how many votes Thune got from Senate Republicans to secure the position. In the first vote, he received 23 votes, Cornyn received 15 and Scott received 13. The position was decided in two rounds of voting.
Trump’s comments on Thune’s election. Trump had not congratulated him or weighed in publicly as of mid-Wednesday afternoon, but Thune said in a tweet that he had spoken to Trump and “Senate Republicans are excited and ready to get to work implementing President Trump’s agenda on behalf of the American people.”
Some MAGA personalities have criticized Thune’s election. Far-right commentator Charlie Kirk said in a tweet Thune “has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda … If he doesn't, we will work to remove him.” Benny Johnson, another MAGA commentator, criticized the secret voting process on X, formerly known as Twitter, asking Thune why the vote had to be secret and why Trump wasn’t invited to speak before it.