Washington — Senate Majority Leader John Thune has pledged to assist former President Donald Trump in navigating the Senate once he returns to the White House, emphasizing the importance of understanding what is "realistic" in the legislative body.
In an interview on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, Thune expressed his commitment to helping Trump "achieve success," but acknowledged that the path to that success might involve differences in strategy. "We want to get to the same destination, but I think at times, there will be differences in how we get there," Thune said. "And I think I have to spell out as clearly as I can to anybody who asks, what the challenges are in the Senate."
Thune explained that the Senate operates differently than the House of Representatives, particularly due to senators’ longer terms and the unique challenges of navigating a body with a new Republican majority. "Understanding the unique aspects of how the Senate operates is something that I'm going to have to be able to share and convey to the President and help him understand," he added.
With a Republican-controlled Congress, GOP leaders are eager to push forward with Trump’s agenda. Thune revealed that he speaks with Trump "fairly regularly" and has been in communication with him even before the election. As the new Congress gets underway, Thune is focused on coordinating the legislative efforts with Trump’s team to ensure smooth implementation of key priorities.
"We're working closely with his team now as we start to take control of the Senate," Thune said on Friday. "And hopefully in the next couple of weeks before he takes the oath of office, we'll have things set up for him, including the opportunity to confirm a lot of his nominees."
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As the newly appointed majority leader, Thune’s initial focus will be on confirming Trump’s nominees for top administration and Cabinet positions. The Senate’s confirmation process will be critical once Trump takes office, with some nominees likely to face opposition even from within the president-elect’s own party.
Thune also pointed to Vice President-elect JD Vance, a former Ohio senator, as a key figure who could bridge the gap between the Trump administration and the Senate. "I think he will be somebody who can help the administration, as they work through these issues, figure out what's realistic, what's achievable, what we can accomplish here in the Senate, because he's been here," Thune said. "He knows it's challenging in the Senate."
With a narrow GOP majority in the Senate, Thune will face significant challenges in pushing through Trump’s legislative priorities, requiring cooperation between both chambers of Congress.