Senate Republicans are closing ranks around Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) after President Trump declined to endorse him for another term as GOP leader following the midterm elections. Despite Trump's public pressure, many Republican senators insist Thune will retain their support, even if the president backs a challenger.
The rift centers on Thune's refusal to abolish the filibuster to advance Trump's top legislative priorities, including the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act. Trump has publicly criticized Thune, suggesting Republican voters are frustrated with congressional inaction, but senators are pushing back.
"There's a lot of respect for John Thune. There's a lot of recognition of how he works and how difficult his job is and a belief that he's doing it really well under difficult circumstances," said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). Moran added that while senators often defer to the president, "who our leader is, there's a real sense that that belongs to us."
Even conservative critics of Thune, such as Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a leading advocate for the SAVE Act, acknowledge the difficulty of the Majority Leader's role. "It's a hard job, it's really a hard job," Scott said, noting that any president would be frustrated by the Senate's 60-vote threshold.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) downplayed the idea of a leadership challenge, saying he doesn't "know of any movements to replace" Thune. He attributed tensions to policy disagreements rather than personal animosity: "I think the president and John like each other. I think these are tough issues and they obviously disagree over things like the filibuster."
Trump's allies on Capitol Hill are also skeptical of his claim that voters are angry at congressional Republicans but not at him. Kennedy argued that voters are "angry at all of us," primarily over the cost of living, which he expects to dominate the election. He also warned that "democratic socialists" are winning elections because they "stand for something," even if their policies are flawed.
GOP lawmakers believe Trump has created political headwinds by downplaying the affordability crisis, which he has called a "hoax." While Trump has touted his economic record, he frequently veers into hot-button issues like the SAVE Act, which Thune has argued is nearly impossible to pass due to Democratic opposition.
Thune has tried to shrug off Trump's criticism, saying he "expected" the lack of endorsement. "That's probably to be expected," he said, adding that he and his colleagues have had a "really productive run." He pointed to the confirmation of acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as a "good, solid win for the team."
One Thune ally suggested Trump's attacks are a tactic to pressure the leader, predicting they might "change" after the election. Meanwhile, Trump's refusal to say whether Thune is "still the man for the job" has fueled speculation, but Senate Republicans appear determined to control their own leadership selection.
