Senate Republican Endorses Trump for President

Senator John Thune, the number two Republican in the Senate, recently confirmed he is endorsing President Donald Trump as the Republican nominee.

Trump receives endorsement from No. 2 Senate Republican John Thune https://t.co/5sxM8L3pPG

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 26, 2024

The endorsement from the South Dakota Republican is yet another indication of President Trump’s grip on the party.

CNN Politics has more on the story:

Coming on the heels of Trump’s win in Saturday’s South Carolina primary, it’s particularly notable given Thune’s vocal skepticism about the former president’s strength as a general election candidate and the role Thune plays in the establishment wing of the party.

Thune and Trump spoke on the phone Saturday night after the primary was called, and the senator told Trump he would be endorsing him, a source familiar told CNN.

Thune, who is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s top deputy and is seen as a potential successor to the Kentucky Republican, had backed Sen. Tim Scott for president before the South Carolina senator dropped out of the race in November.

Thune said last month said he’d support the eventual GOP nominee, but his endorsement comes despite misgivings from some in the party about how the former president may impact down-ballot races as the GOP seeks to regain the Senate

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Thune is a major endorser within the Republican Party, who was originally against backing President Trump.

John Thune, the Senate’s second-ranking Republican and an erstwhile critic of Donald Trump, has now changed his tune to one of full-throated endorsement for a presidential run in 2024.

“I support former President Trump’s campaign to win the presidency, and I intend to do… pic.twitter.com/peoft1lL0h

— UngaTheGreat (@UngaTheGreat) February 26, 2024

The Hill has more on how President Trump was able to gain the endorsement from Thune:

Last month, Thune said he would support whoever became the ultimate GOP nominee, adding that Trump seems to be on a strong path toward victory in upcoming primaries.

“I’m interested in what the people are saying, and voters are breaking heavily in his favor. He’s in a commanding position, and I’ve said all along I’ll support the nominee,” Thune said last month. “If he’s the nominee, I’ll do what I can to help the team win the presidency and the Senate and put an end to the Biden/Schumer agenda.”

While President Trump currently has a stronghold within the Republican Party, there is still one person left to challenge him, Nikki Haley.