President Donald Trump has been vocal about his legislative priorities, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has become the target of his frustration. Trump's repeated failures to pass the SAVE America Act may be costing Thune the president's support, with tensions rising between the two.
Trump has been pushing Republicans to pass the bill, turning support for it into a loyalty test. Thune has been the only Republican willing to tell Trump no, and the president's response has been telling. "Well, that's too bad for him," Trump said when asked about Thune not having the votes to move the bill. "I mean, that's too bad for him and too bad for the Republican Party."
Thune has repeatedly argued that Republicans don't have the votes to pass the legislation, a position that has put him at odds with Trump. A bloc of Republicans has never supported the bill, while Senate Democrats overwhelmingly oppose it, leaving Thune without the votes. "That must be a different form of math," Thune said when asked about the president's assertion that Republicans could pass the bill.
Despite Trump's public questioning of Thune, the Senate GOP leader intends to seek another term as the top Republican. Leadership is elected internally by Senate Republicans, not by the president. Thune's colleagues have his back, with Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., saying, "John's a smart guy... He is working really hard. So I think he shouldn't – you know, it's tough to be the leader."
Thune has moved major legislation backed by the president and has the Senate on a record pace for nominee confirmations, all while dealing with vulnerable Republicans taking tough political votes and Democrats who are bound to kneecap Trump's agenda at every turn. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., and Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., have also come to Thune's defense, saying that he has helped navigate an almost impossible scenario with the president.
Thune's ability to balance the needs of his party and the president will be put to the test in the coming months. As the SAVE America Act continues to stall, it remains to be seen how Trump's frustration will affect Thune's position as Senate Majority Leader.
