National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman and top-Trump ally Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., indicated to senators before the Wednesday Republican leader election that President-elect Donald Trump was favoring Senate Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., to win, although he did not publicly endorse him.
Daines, who delivered one of Thune’s two nominating speeches before the voting commenced, asserted that Trump supported Thune in the competition against Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, according to two sources informed Fox News Digital, including a senator present in the room.
TOP GOP SENATORS WARN DOJ TO PRESERVE JACK SMITH DOCS IN TRUMP CASES, CITING ‘PAST DESTRUCTION’ OF RECORDS
Daines is privately urging other Republicans to support Thune. (Reuters)
Daines’ office verified to Fox News Digital that he informed his colleagues “Trump likes Thune” before the ballots were cast.
Scott had notably garnered public endorsements from Trump-aligned individuals, including billionaire X owner Elon Musk. He also had the backing of several Trump-ally Senate colleagues. However, he was eliminated in the first secret ballot, receiving only 13 votes.
THUNE SAYS TRUMP’S BORDER PLAN IS 1ST UP IN RIGOROUS PRIORITY LIST FOR NEW CONGRESS: ‘REAL WORK BEGINS’
Left: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event at the Palm Beach Convention Center on Nov. 6, 2024 in West Palm Beach, Fla; Right: Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., speaks at a press conference following being elected the Senate Majority Leader by the Senate Republican caucus in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 13, 2024. (Left: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images; Right: Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images)
There were speculations about whether Trump would approve of a Thune win, considering the strained relationship between the two during and after his first presidential term.
Subsequently, Thune and Trump have reestablished contact and repaired their relationship, as mentioned in Daines’ statements.
MATT GAETZ FACES GOP SENATE OPPOSITION AFTER TRUMP SELECTION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
The new Senate GOP leader was chosen on Wednesday. (Reuters)
Thune emerged victoriously in the leader race on the second secret ballot, securing 29 votes, two more than the required 27-vote majority. Cornyn received 24 votes.
The South Dakota Republican had early support from another prominent Trump ally, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who disclosed his backing shortly after Thune announced his candidacy.
After his triumph on Wednesday, Trump extended his congratulations to Thune on Truth Social. “Congratulations to Senator John Thune, the Newly Elected Senate Majority Leader. He moves quickly, and will do an outstanding job,” he expressed.
THUNE WINS SECRET BALLOT TO BECOME NEW SENATE GOP LEADER, SUCCEEDING MCCONNELL
US Senator John Thune, R-S.D., newly elected Senate Majority Leader for the upcoming 119th Congress, speaks to reporters at the US Capitol on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump’s undisclosed support for Thune, as suggested by Daines, was in contradiction to the South Dakota senator’s reluctance to commit to allowing recess appointments after Trump’s public request for the leader candidates to agree.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Thune simply stated that all options were open for confirming Trump’s administration selections, without committing to unilateral confirmation during recess.
Trump’s transition team and Thune’s office did not immediately provide a comment to Fox News Digital.
