The relationship between Donald Trump and Senator John Thune has always been complex, marked by periods of tension and public disagreements, especially when Thune dared to challenge Trump’s assertions about the 2020 election. Despite this turbulent history, Senator John Thune now holds the influential position of Senate Majority Leader as Trump embarks on his second presidential term. This raises a critical question: Does Trump Like John Thune, and how will their history shape the political landscape moving forward?
President Donald Trump, flanked by Sen. John Thune, stops to speak to the cameras following his lunch with Senate Republicans in the Capitol on Wed. Jan. 9, 2018.
President Donald Trump, alongside Senator John Thune, addressing the press after a luncheon with Senate Republicans at the Capitol on January 9, 2018. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call via Getty Images)
John Thune’s ascent to Senate Majority Leader is particularly noteworthy considering his past clashes with Donald Trump, especially surrounding the 2020 election aftermath. Thune, then Senate majority whip, was among the Republicans who voiced clear objections to Trump’s attempts to overturn the election results. Now, as Senate Majority Leader, Thune’s relationship with Trump is under scrutiny. While Thune has publicly stated his intention to foster a “working relationship” with the president and emphasizes Republican unity, the history between them suggests a more nuanced dynamic. Their contrasting approaches and past conflicts indicate that the question of whether Trump likes John Thune remains pertinent.
The friction between Trump and Thune isn’t new. It’s rooted in fundamental differences in their political styles and ideologies. Thune, often described as an institutionalist, values the traditional role of the Senate as a check on executive power. This contrasts sharply with Trump’s inclination towards a more assertive, less constrained executive branch. These differences came to a head most dramatically after the 2020 presidential election when Trump sought to invalidate the results.
Senator Thune firmly rejected these efforts, stating unequivocally that states had fulfilled their legal obligations in the election process. His stance was a direct contradiction to Trump’s narrative and placed him in opposition to a significant faction within the Republican party that supported Trump’s claims. When the Capitol was attacked on January 6th, in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College votes, Thune condemned the violence, declaring that such “thuggery” would not deter Congress from its duty.
Despite facing pressure from within his own party, with 147 Republicans in Congress voting to challenge the election results, Thune sided with Democrats and a minority of Republicans to certify the outcome. The Argus Leader of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, highlighted Thune’s direct criticisms of Trump, recalling his denouncement of Trump’s attempts to subvert the election and his role in the January 6th riot as “inexcusable.” While Thune echoed then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s criticism of Trump, he, like McConnell, did not vote to convict Trump during the February 2021 impeachment trial. This nuanced position reflects the tightrope Thune has often walked in navigating the Trump era.
However, the tension predates the 2020 election controversy. Going back to Trump’s initial presidential campaign in 2016, Thune was an early critic after the emergence of theAccess Hollywood tape. The Argus Leader reported that Thune was among the first Republicans to suggest Trump should withdraw from the race following the release of the tape, which contained crude and sexually aggressive comments made by Trump about women.
The most intense public clash between Donald Trump and John Thune erupted after the 2020 election. Trump’s ire was ignited by Thune’s remark that attempts to overturn the election results in the Senate would “go down like a shot dog.” This comment triggered a furious response from Trump. In December 2020, Trump publicly attacked Thune, labeling him a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only) and “Mitch’s boy.” Trump went further, stating on social media that Thune should simply allow the election challenge to proceed and falsely claiming that “South Dakota doesn’t like weakness.” Threatening political retribution, Trump declared that Thune would be primaried in 2022 and that his “political career [was] over!!!”
Trump’s animosity persisted into the new year. On January 1, 2021, he publicly floated the idea of South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, now his nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, challenging Thune in the 2022 primary. Trump suggested Noem, or others, should run against Thune, emphasizing that “South Dakota wants strong leadership, now!”
Despite Trump’s public attacks and attempts to undermine him, Noem did not challenge Thune. In the 2022 Republican primary, Thune demonstrated considerable strength, winning with 72 percent of the vote. He then secured reelection in the general election with a commanding 43-point margin in reliably Republican South Dakota. This resounding victory underscored Thune’s popularity and resilience within his home state, even in the face of Trump’s opposition.
Following his reelection and as Trump’s influence within the GOP remained strong, Thune adopted a cautious approach. While many Republican senators quickly endorsed Trump’s 2024 presidential bid, Thune notably refrained from doing so initially. He voiced concerns about the party’s direction, arguing that “it’s clear that running on relitigating the 2020 election is not a winning strategy.” This hesitation to immediately align with Trump further highlighted the distance between them and Thune’s desire for the Republican party to move beyond the focus on past grievances.
Thune eventually supported a primary challenger to Trump, endorsing Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and even appearing at Scott’s campaign launch event in May 2023. Politico reported that Thune’s endorsement of Scott was seen as an effort to steer the GOP away from Trump and towards a more forward-looking vision. This action signaled Thune’s continued willingness to challenge Trump’s dominance within the Republican party and promote alternative leadership.
It was only after Trump solidified his position as the Republican nominee that Thune finally offered his endorsement. However, this endorsement came with evident reservations. Thune admitted to CNN that he had “always been worried” about Trump. These concerns resurfaced in August 2024 when Thune publicly criticized Trump’s proposed tariffs during a farm-policy discussion in South Dakota, calling them “a recipe for increased inflation.” This public disagreement, even after endorsing Trump, indicated that Thune’s underlying concerns about Trump’s policies and leadership style persisted.
Now, as Senate Majority Leader, John Thune faces the significant challenge of balancing his constitutional principles with the demands of a Trump administration. He will need to navigate Trump’s push for potentially disruptive economic and political policies and the pressure to confirm nominees who might aggressively pursue these policies. One immediate point of contention is Trump’s desire to use recess appointments to circumvent Senate approval—a tactic Thune has indicated could be avoided through bipartisan cooperation. This issue is just one of many that will test Thune’s commitment to upholding the Senate’s role as a check on executive overreach.
The question of whether Trump likes John Thune is perhaps less important than understanding the dynamic their history has created. Thune’s past resistance to Trump’s election challenges and his criticisms of Trump’s policies suggest a potential for continued friction. As Senate Majority Leader, Thune holds a position of significant power. Whether he will use this position to act as a check on Trump’s agenda, or whether he will ultimately align with the president, remains to be seen. The relationship between these two powerful figures will undoubtedly be a defining factor in the political landscape of the coming years, and whether Thune will stand his ground against Trump’s pressures will be a key test of his leadership and the Senate’s independence.
