Sen. John Thune (R-SD) was elected the Senate Majority Leader to a mixed reaction from Republicans.
Thune succeeds Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who has been the party’s leader in the chamber for almost 20 years. Staunch supporters of President-elect Donald Trump expressed their concerns that Thune is likely to follow McConnell’s example and not toe the MAGA line.
“Senate Leader John Thune has promised to pass Trump’s nominees quickly WE WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE, IF HE DOES NOT, HE WILL BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY,” wrote Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). “THEY SHOULD HAVE ELECTED RICK SCOTT.”
HAPPENING NOW 🚨 Senate Leader John Thune has promised to pass Trump’s nominees quickly
WE WILL HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE, IF HE DOES NOT, HE WILL BE FIRED IMMEDIATELY 🔥
THEY SHOULD HAVE ELECTED RICK SCOTT pic.twitter.com/qi90JqbSMY
— Marjorie Taylor Greene Press Release (Parody) (@MTGrepp) November 13, 2024
“He has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda,” Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA founder, also wrote of Thune. “If he does, we will support him. If he doesn’t, we will work to remove him.”
John Thune is Senate Majority Leader.
He has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda.
If he does, we will support him.
If he doesn’t, we will work to remove him.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) November 13, 2024
Reactions quickly circulated online, with one X user suggesting confidence in Thune’s leadership must still be earned.
“We do not like Thune. We do not trust Thune. We are frankly ashamed of Thune,” one user captioned a photo of Thune with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “May he prove us all wrong.”
Country music star John Rich was less optimistic. Earlier, he issued a poll on X asking his followers to pick between Thune or Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and John Cornyn (R-TX). Scott swept the online poll with 99%.
“The People wanted Scott, the Senate wanted Thune, McConnell’s protege,” Rich wrote. “Senate wins,The People lose.”
Others resigned to the fact that Thune won the Senate secret vote, defeating Scott and Cornyn.
“Thune winning over Scott is yet another example of people in DC not giving one sh** what twitter pundits think or do,” wrote Meghan McCain, former talk show host and daughter of the late Republican Sen. John McCain.
Thune winning over Scott is yet another example of people in DC not giving one shit what twitter pundits think or do.
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) November 13, 2024
“God help me. I can’t believe I’m happy that Thune is Senate Majority Leader,” another user wrote.
Thune reported that, within hours of his election as Senate majority leader, Trump gave him a call.
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The South Dakota senator assured his X followers that his colleagues are “ready to get to work implementing President Trump’s agenda on behalf of the American people.”
His account has garnered nearly 5,000 more followers in the last 30 days.