In Washington, the Senate has been vigorously working under the leadership of the new majority leader, Republican John Thune. The recent sessions have seen senators laboring into the wee hours, with the latest vote on Lieutenant General Dan “Razin” Caine’s confirmation as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff occurring post 2 a.m. This late-night voting marks just the beginning of a busy year for the Senate, which has included multiple all-night debates and an impressively rapid high-level Cabinet confirmation process—the swiftest in the last two decades.
However, this smooth result was not guaranteed from the start. President Donald Trump originally desired that Thune be prepared to put the Senate into recess, bypassing the confirmation process entirely. Thune, who represents South Dakota, countered this idea by advising the President to allow the Senate to complete their examination in the traditional manner, leveraging time and diligence to push through, a strategy that eventually proved effective.
Thune’s approach adeptly demonstrated the Senate’s significance to Trump while preserving the body’s constitutional duty of confirming a president’s Cabinet selections. Yet, his willingness to advance even Trump’s more controversial Cabinet appointments has not been without its challenges.
Several of these officials have been embroiled in Trump’s second-term controversies, including informal communications about military strategies via the unclassified app Signal and pushing Trump toward imposing steep tariffs on trade partners. GOP senators have often found themselves responding to these situations. This has included Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, initiating a probe into the possible sharing of classified data via Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s Signal account. Additionally, Republican advice recently tilted towards encouraging Trump to engage in trade negotiations rather than adhere to the rigid tariff approach supported by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
During an interview, Thune remarked on Trump’s decision to halt tariffs for most countries, saying this shows responsiveness to the feedback he’s received. Thune emphasized the collective desire for Trump and the nation’s success while cautiously considering the policy shifts’ impacts.
This balanced, steady support with caution exemplifies Thune’s first months working alongside a president with whom tension existed until recently. As they maintain a positive rapport, the interplay will escalate as Republicans aim to smoothly usher through Congress a substantial package of tax benefits and spending cuts, likely along party lines.
Reflecting on prior leadership challenges, it took just over a year of Trump’s first term before a fall-out with former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Now in the leadership seat once occupied by McConnell, Thune underscores teamwork’s necessity, “Everybody’s got to be rolling in the same direction. It takes a lot of teamwork.”
While exercising executive authority, Trump has epitomized command over the Republican Party with plans to transform federal operations and societal roles, and Thune concedes that Trump’s assertive executive power mirrors that of predecessors. Thune maintains that their duty is to back the president yet also act as a critical check and balance, as designed by the Founders.
Nonetheless, Trump’s broad orders have challenged constitutional traditions, affecting civil rights, federal initiatives, and U.S. alliances without significant rebuttal from Congressional Republicans. Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat from Arizona, implores the Republicans, including Thune, to openly oppose unacceptable presidential conduct citing Trump’s disparagement of NATO and talks of territorial acquisitions. Kelly warns Trump’s actions are detrimental to international standing, but concedes Thune’s aptitude in optimizing Senate function.
Thune’s emphasis has been on accelerating Senate processes, even missing a vote while in a meeting at the White House to ensure timely closure of a session, a small but significant step towards making the Senate more dynamic and participative in lawmaking. His leadership promised senators more involvement in legislation development and amending bills.
The Senate has successfully garnered bipartisan support on legislation increasing penalties for fentanyl trafficking and imposing stricter measures on undocumented immigrants accused of theft and violent offenses. Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt credited Thune for effectively leading, although the Senate has mostly been occupied by confirmations.
As they work steadily through confirmations and prepare for significant legislative agendas, the Senate continues to navigate its balance of power, led by Thune’s consistent and methodical approach.