After years in the background, Sen. John Thune (R-SD) is stepping into the limelight as the new Senate Majority Leader as Sen. Mitch McConnell (R0KY) steps aside and Thune's primary focus will be making sure Donald Trump will be happy while he also attempts to keep his caucus in line.
In a profile in the Wall Street Journal by Molly Ball, she writes that the South Dakota conservative has had a tenuous relationship in the past with the president-elect who once tried to get Gov. Kristi Noem to run for his seat.
Now, Thune will take over the reins from McConnell whose relationship with Trump has deteriorated into backbiting and personal attacks when the longtime Kentucky lawmaker butted heads with Trump during his first term and after he lost in 2020.
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As Ball wrote, "Perhaps no one in Washington will be more central to Trump’s governing prospects as Thune seeks to marshal the GOP’s 53 Republicans behind the unpredictable leader in the White House. And while optimism and team spirit are the words of the day, some conflict seems unavoidable."
According to Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Thune has his work cut out for him.
"This is a different role than he’s held before, and he’s not going to please everyone. He’s got to figure out how to resolve disputes and make a decision knowing some people will be happy and some will be unhappy,” he predicted.
Key to keeping on Trump's good side will be getting as much of the president's agenda through the Senate with a slim margin as quickly as possible, with Ball writing, "The first reconciliation bill would look to add resources to border security, energy production and national defense, with the aim of swift passage to put early points on the board. The second, expected to entail months of wrangling, would extend the 2017 tax bill, whose provisions expire in 2025, while making other changes to the tax system—always a contentious prospect in Washington."
Noting that Trump has yet to endorse Thune's plans, Ball added he is facing a "short window of opportunity to legislate before the 2026 midterm elections."
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