Trump’s Push to Influence Senate Leadership
As President-elect Donald J. Trump prepares to take office, some of his closest allies are quietly advising him to take bold steps in blocking a former Republican opponent from ascending to the position of Senate majority leader. These advisers are urging Mr. Trump to assert his influence more decisively over a Republican Congress that has largely bowed to his will. Their focus is on preventing Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the current No. 2 Republican in the Senate, from securing the top leadership role.
According to sources familiar with these discussions, Trump has not yet publicly weighed in on the competitive race for Senate leadership. However, those close to him believe that intervening would be a significant and extraordinary move, even by Trump’s standards. Throughout his first term and following his departure from office, he has maintained a strong grip on congressional Republicans, often demanding unwavering loyalty from them on key policy issues and personnel decisions.
Senator Thune, often viewed as a traditional establishment Republican, faces opposition from elements within the MAGA right, who have expressed their disdain for him. He is vying for the leadership position against Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida. A vote among Republican senators and senators-elect is scheduled for Wednesday and will be conducted via secret ballot.
Should Trump choose to intervene in this internal leadership battle, it would send a powerful message about his intent to dominate the legislative branch during his anticipated second term. The majority leader in the Senate wields significant power, controlling the legislative agenda and determining which proposals and nominations receive votes and when they occur.
In recent days, Trump has signaled his desire to exert more control over the Senate. He issued a bold ultimatum on social media, demanding that any new Senate leader align with his strategy to bypass the confirmation process by calling for recesses. This would allow him to appoint key personnel without needing Senate approval. Notably, all three candidates vying for the Senate leadership have quickly pledged to expedite his choices, indicating their willingness to cooperate with Trump’s agenda.
