Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) has advised President-elect Trump to remain neutral in the race for Mitch McConnell’s successor as Senate Republican Leader. Thune believes it would benefit Trump to give Senate Republicans the freedom to make this decision independently.
Several of Thune’s allies, including Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), have echoed his stance, emphasizing that Trump should avoid influencing the selection. Thune’s recent comments come shortly after Trump’s electoral victory over Vice President Harris, which also returned Republicans to a Senate majority.
Cornyn and Scott emerge as key rivals in GOP Senate leadership race with Trump’s influence looming
Supporters of Thune’s rivals in the race, Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.), suggest Thune’s push for Trump to stay neutral signals concern that Trump might endorse one of his opponents, especially Scott, whose strong rapport with Trump could sway the outcome.
Scott, as the senator from Trump’s home state of Florida, has maintained close ties with the president-elect. Scott even visited Mar-a-Lago in 2021, when Trump’s relationship with other GOP senators was strained, to present him with a “Champion of Freedom” award. Recently, Scott was the first senator to attend Trump’s trial in New York.
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a supporter of Scott, publicly encouraged Trump to endorse Scott, arguing that such support would help implement Trump’s agenda effectively. Johnson expressed this during a podcast interview with conservative host Jesse Kelly, indicating Trump’s endorsement could be pivotal.
Cornyn, who worked alongside Trump as Senate GOP whip during his first term, doesn’t have the same close connection with Trump as Scott but has collaborated with him on major legislative achievements, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and Supreme Court appointments. Cornyn recently spent time with Trump at events in Nevada and Texas, reminding him of their shared successes during past legislative efforts.
Thune’s relationship with Trump has been less smooth, especially after Thune’s decision in 2020 to oppose objections to electoral votes for Biden.
Trump was frustrated by Thune’s stance at the time, going as far as calling for a primary challenger against him in 2022. Despite Trump’s disapproval, Thune won re-election comfortably.
Thune has since sought to repair his relationship with Trump, including a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in March and a recent phone conversation. He’s committed to working closely with Trump on legislative goals if he becomes the next Senate majority leader.
However, Thune maintains that Senate Republicans should independently decide their leader, suggesting Trump’s neutrality would allow for smoother future collaboration.
In interviews with CNBC and Fox News, Thune acknowledged Trump’s potential influence in the race but expressed a preference for the decision to remain internal to the Senate.
He explained that the selection process, particularly in the Senate, involves intricate dynamics best understood by the senators themselves. Thune conveyed this to Trump, emphasizing that leaving the decision to senators would yield the best leader for implementing Trump’s agenda.
Historically, direct presidential influence on Senate leadership races is rare. The last instance was in 2002 when Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) succeeded Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) as Senate Majority Leader, a move largely supported by President George W. Bush due to Frist’s loyalty. Frist’s tenure highlighted the tension that can arise when a leader is perceived as too closely aligned with the White House
