GOP senators rally behind Thune in response to Trump jabs at leader

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The Hill's Headlines (PM) - August 10, 2026

The Hill's Headlines (PM) - August 10, 2026

Senate Republicans are rallying behind Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) after President Trump declined to support the GOP leader serving another term following the midterm election.

Many Republican senators say Thune will have their full support, even if Trump backs a challenger because of the Senate leader’s refusal to abolish the filibuster to advance Trump’s top legislative priorities, such as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.

“There’s a lot of respect for John Thune. There’s a lot of recognition of how he works and how difficult his job is and a belief that he’s doing it really well under difficult circumstances,” said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).

Moran said that Republican senators have been willing to yield to the president on a lot of issues but that they would draw a line against letting Trump push Thune out of his job or pick a replacement.

“I also think there are some things where the Senate seems willing to accede their privileges, but I think who our leader is, there’s a real sense that that belongs to us,” he said.

Even Senate conservatives who have ratcheted up pressure on Thune to keep the upper chamber in session during the August recess to debate the SAVE America Act acknowledge that Thune has had to navigate a political minefield as GOP leader.

“It’s a hard job, it’s really a hard job,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a leading proponent of the SAVE America Act.

Asked if he continues to have confidence in Thune given the growing criticism from the White House, Scott noted that presidents often get frustrated with the Senate’s 60-vote hurdle to passing their legislative priorities.

“I’m sure if I were president of the United States, I would be frustrated if everything I wanted didn’t get done. So that’s probably pretty common,” the Florida senator said.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said he’s doesn’t “know of any movements to replace” Thune even though Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over his agenda getting bogged down in the Senate.

“I think the president and John like........

© The Hill