Nationwide Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman and top-Trump ally Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., advised to senators forward of the Wednesday Republican chief election that President-elect Donald Trump was supporting Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., to win, regardless of selecting to not endorse publicly.
Daines, who gave considered one of Thune’s two nominating speeches earlier than voting started, claimed Trump was backing Thune within the race in opposition to Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, two sources advised Fox Information Digital, together with one senator within the room.
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Daines is privately encouraging different Republicans to assist Thune. (Reuters)
Daines’ workplace confirmed to Fox Information Digital that he advised his colleagues “Trump likes Thune” earlier than ballots had been forged.
Scott had notably obtained a number of public endorsements from Trump-aligned people, together with billionaire X proprietor Elon Musk. He additionally had the assist of a number of Trump-ally Senate colleagues. Nonetheless, he was knocked out on the primary secret poll, solely receiving 13 votes.
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Left: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to talk throughout an election evening occasion on the Palm Seaside Conference Heart on Nov. 6, 2024 in West Palm Seaside, Fla; Proper: Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks at a press convention following being elected the Senate Majority Chief by the Senate Republican caucus in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 13, 2024. (Left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs; Proper: Nathan Posner/Anadolu through Getty Photographs)
Whether or not Trump can be content material with a Thune win was speculated previous to the race, contemplating the fractured relationship the 2 males had throughout and after his first time period as president.
Since then, Thune and Trump have been in touch and have apparently repaired their relationship, in response to Daines’ remarks.
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The brand new Senate GOP chief was chosen on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Thune received the chief race on the second secret poll, receiving 29 votes, which was two greater than the mandatory 27-vote majority. Cornyn received 24 votes.
The South Dakota Republican had obtained early backing from one other prime Trump ally, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who revealed his assist for him quickly after he introduced his bid.
Following his win on Wednesday, Trump congratulated Thune in a submit on Fact Social. “Congratulations to Senator John Thune, the Newly Elected Senate Majority Chief. He strikes rapidly, and can do an impressive job,” he stated.
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US Senator John Thune, R-S.D., newly elected Senate Majority Chief for the upcoming 119th Congress, speaks to reporters on the US Capitol on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (TING SHEN/AFP through Getty Photographs)
Trump’s personal assist for Thune, as Daines advised, got here regardless of the South Dakota senator’s hedging on committing to permit recess appointments after Trump publicly requested that the chief candidates agree.
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Thune merely stated that all the pieces was on the desk when it got here to confirming Trump’s alternatives for his administration, with out committing to letting him verify them unilaterally throughout recess.
Trump’s transition crew and Thune’s workplace didn’t instantly present remark to Fox Information Digital.
