Staff Reports
Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-SD) made a bold move by throwing his support behind former President Donald Trump following the former president’s victory in the South Carolina Republican presidential primary. Thune’s announcement, reported by the Washington Examiner, places Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) as the only remaining members of Senate GOP leadership who have not joined the Trump train.
Trump receives endorsement from No. 2 Senate Republican John Thune https://t.co/5sxM8L3pPG
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 26, 2024
In a passionate statement, Thune emphasized the imperative nature of the upcoming presidential election, declaring that it’s a clear choice between “the champion of conservative principles, Donald Trump,” and “the dark abyss of Bidenomics with Joe Biden.” His fervent support for the former president is rooted in a desire to see a Republican majority in the Senate working alongside Trump to uphold American strength both domestically and internationally.
Thune didn’t hold back when condemning the “disastrous Biden-Schumer agenda” and highlighting the urgent need to halt the “onslaught of damaging policies” that threaten the nation’s prosperity. He underscored the pressing issues at the southern border and on the global stage, asserting that the country cannot afford to endure “another four years of Biden’s failed leadership.”
Adding to the growing wave of support for Trump, Thune joins a lineup of Republican senators, representatives, and other elected officials who have thrown their weight behind the former president. Notably, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former contenders in the GOP primary, have also voiced their endorsement for Trump, solidifying a formidable coalition.
As the dust settles, all eyes are on Sen. Joni Ernst, who, while not explicitly endorsing Trump at this time, has left the door open for a potential endorsement in the future. Meanwhile, lingering tensions between McConnell and Trump have been no secret, with public jabs exchanged between the two prominent figures. McConnell’s barbs labeling Trump as “diminished” following the 2022 elections clash with the former president’s unrelenting criticism of the Senate GOP leader and his spouse.
Thune’s bold step into the Trump camp marks a significant development in the landscape of Republican support for the former president, setting the stage for a fierce and polarizing political battleground in the lead-up to the next election. With the Republican party rallying behind Trump, the stage is set for a clash of titans as the 2024 presidential race looms on the horizon.
