Senator John Thune, despite being called a RINO by Donald Trump, has been voted by Republicans as the Senate majority leader on Wednesday, November 13. A “RINO” is short for a “Republican In Name Only,” a term Trump has used to label Republicans who don’t follow what he wants. In a secret ballot, Thune won over Texas Senator John Cornyn and Florida Senator Rick Scott as the GOP caucus leader, despite Scott receiving endorsements from other Trump allies like Tucker Carlson, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Elon Musk. Many Trump voters are wondering whether Thune is actually a part of the MAGA movement and whether there’s a lingering grudge between the two.
Why was John Thune called a RINO by Donald Trump?
Donald Trump called John Thune a RINO in a tweet on X (Twitter at the time) in 2021 after he whipped colleagues to oppose Trump’s efforts to block the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential race.
At the time, Thune said that the idea of denying Biden’s electors would “go down like a shot dog,” causing Trump to call for Kristi Noem to run against him in the 2022 South Dakota primary.
While Thune voted to acquit Trump in his impeachment trial for the 2021 US Capitol attack, he said in February 2021 that “what former President Trump did to undermine faith in our election system and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power is inexcusable” (via The Guardian).
In an effort to mend bridges, Thune endorsed Trump on February 25, 2024, a day after Trump won the South Carolina Republican primary. As noted by the South Dakota Searchlight, Mitch McConnell announced he would step down as the Senate minority leader three days later on February 28, signaling Thune to be his replacement.
In addition, Thune visited Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago in March, per The Hill, and toned down his criticisms of the then GOP presidential nominee during his campaign.
In his new appointment as the Senate majority leader, Thune pledged to hold meetings with Speaker Mike Johnson to remain in step with the Trump White House and House Republicans.
Yesterday, Trump nominated Fox News contributer Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense.
