This was surprising to see.
President Donald Trump is putting new pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune as frustration grows over the Republican-controlled Senate’s ability to advance some of the president’s biggest priorities.
In a new interview with Punchbowl News, Trump notably declined to endorse Thune for another term as Senate Republican leader. While the president stopped short of directly opposing the South Dakota Republican, his answer left little doubt that he expects more results from GOP leadership.
“I don’t want to get into that necessarily,” Trump said when asked whether he would support Thune for another term.
Trump then made clear where much of his frustration is coming from: the Senate’s inability to pass election legislation that has become an important part of his agenda.
The exchange puts a fresh spotlight on the relationship between Trump and Republican leaders in Congress as the party heads toward the midterm elections.
Trump Pressures Thune Over Election Legislation
Trump said he personally gets along with Thune and believes the Senate majority leader is trying to move the president’s agenda forward.
But trying may not be enough.
“I get along with him. It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t have the votes,” Trump said.
Trump is particularly focused on passage of the SAVE America Act, legislation that would impose stricter voter identification requirements and additional restrictions involving mail-in voting.
Election integrity and voting rules have remained major political issues for Republican voters, making the Senate battle especially significant for the president and his supporters.
Trump acknowledged that Thune faces a difficult vote count.
“John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that,” Trump said. “But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate.”
The comments were not a formal rejection of Thune. Trump did not call for his removal or announce support for a potential challenger.
Still, the president’s refusal to offer an endorsement sends a clear political message: Republican leaders are being judged on whether they can deliver results.
Trump Wants Republicans To End The Filibuster
Trump’s frustration with Thune is closely connected to a much larger Senate battle involving the filibuster.
Under current Senate procedures, most major legislation needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. That can prevent a narrow Senate majority from passing legislation without at least some support from the opposing party.
Trump believes Republicans should eliminate that obstacle.
“I believe strongly in terminating the filibuster,” Trump said.
The president argued that doing so could allow Republicans to immediately advance the SAVE America Act along with many other priorities that currently face resistance in the Senate.
For Trump, eliminating the filibuster could fundamentally change what Republicans are able to accomplish while they control Washington.
Thune has taken a different position on the practical realities facing Republicans.
The Senate majority leader has previously said Republicans do not have enough votes to eliminate the filibuster. He has also acknowledged the challenges surrounding passage of the election legislation Trump wants.
That creates a basic disagreement between the White House and Senate leadership.
Trump wants action. Thune has to count votes.
Trump Warns Democrats Could Change The Rules
Trump also warned Republicans about what could happen if Democrats regain power.
According to the president, Democrats could eliminate the filibuster themselves if they retake control and determine that changing Senate rules would help them pass their agenda.
“If they get in, they’re going to do it very quickly,” Trump said.
That possibility is central to Trump’s argument.
Rather than preserving a Senate tradition that Democrats could eventually eliminate themselves, Trump believes Republicans should act while they have the opportunity.
“I would do it whether they did it or not,” Trump said.
Trump predicted that eliminating the filibuster would give Republicans an opportunity to pass an enormous amount of legislation during the remainder of his term.
“We would get things that nobody ever dreamt of,” Trump said.
Whether enough Republican senators can ever be persuaded to agree remains another question.
Midterm Elections Create A Bigger Problem
The disagreement with Thune comes as Trump is also raising concerns about Republican turnout in the midterm elections.
Trump’s political coalition has repeatedly demonstrated its strength when he is personally on the ballot. Midterm elections present a different challenge because the president will not be running.
Trump openly questioned whether all of his supporters will turn out for Republican congressional candidates without his name at the top of the ticket.
“The question is, will they vote?” Trump said.
The president suggested some Republican voters are increasingly frustrated with GOP lawmakers.
That could become a serious warning sign for Republicans if dissatisfaction with Congress causes conservative voters to stay home.
Trump, however, argued that the frustration is directed at Republican lawmakers rather than his presidency.
“They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me,” Trump said.
Those words could make congressional Republicans uncomfortable as they prepare for competitive House and Senate races.
Trump Needs His Voters To Show Up
Trump indicated that he intends to encourage his supporters to participate in the midterms.
The political stakes are enormous.
Control of Congress will determine how easily Trump can pursue his agenda during the remainder of his presidency. Losing either chamber could make legislation considerably harder to pass and potentially lead to more partisan investigations and confrontations between Congress and the White House.
Republicans therefore have two related challenges.
First, congressional leaders must convince conservative voters that they are producing meaningful results.
Second, they must persuade Trump voters to return to the polls even when Trump himself is not a candidate.
The president’s remarks suggest he understands that challenge.
They also indicate he is willing to publicly pressure members of his own party if he believes they are failing to deliver.
Thune Faces Growing Pressure
Trump’s refusal to endorse Thune for another leadership term should not be confused with an outright break between the two Republicans.
Trump repeatedly said Thune is trying, and he emphasized that the two men get along.
But the president also made it clear that results matter.
For Republican voters who handed the party political power expecting action on elections, immigration, the economy and other conservative priorities, procedural explanations from Washington may carry only so much weight.
Trump appears to recognize that frustration and is increasingly directing it toward Congress.
That puts Thune and other Senate Republicans in a difficult position. They must navigate Senate rules and internal Republican disagreements while facing demands from a president who wants his agenda moving faster.
A Major Test For Republicans
The battle ultimately extends far beyond the political future of John Thune.
Republicans now face a fundamental question about what they intend to accomplish with the power voters gave them.
Trump wants the party to move aggressively, including eliminating the filibuster if necessary. Thune and other Senate Republicans must decide how far they are willing to go and whether they have enough support within their own conference to do it.
Meanwhile, the midterm elections are approaching.
If Trump’s supporters believe congressional Republicans have failed to deliver, voter enthusiasm could become a serious concern. If those voters turn out in force, Republicans will have a better chance of protecting their congressional majorities and continuing to advance Trump’s agenda.
For now, Trump is keeping the pressure on.
He has not officially abandoned Thune, but he also has not given the Senate leader the endorsement he was asked to provide.
In Washington, that distinction could prove important.
The message from Trump is increasingly difficult for Republican leaders to ignore: he wants results, and he expects Congress to find a way to deliver them.
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