Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” that the successor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) needs to be independent from former President Donald Trump. He said there is.
A partial transcription follows:
JOHN KARL: By the way, I would like to point out that the former president had some choice words for you, which you probably know. I think he called you – or asked if you were crazy, just an idiot, an idiot, a RINO, a weakling – anyway, we gotta keep going is completed. But how important is it that whoever the leader of the Senate is, has some degree of independence from Donald Trump? I mean, I understand that you’re saying we need everyone to participate in the general election, but how important is it that we do the same thing that McConnell is prepared to do to stand up to Trump?
ROUNDS: Well, that’s what I look for in a leader. What I’m looking for is someone who can work with the president while firmly asserting his own position. That’s one of the reasons I publicly supported John Thune and supported Mitch McConnell. I think John Thune brings a breath of fresh air. This always happens when there is a change in leadership.
And again, we have others who will consider it. they are good people. It’s not that there are bad options for us in the Senate, but we have some really good options. I just happened to think John Thune was the right person at the right time. He is a great moral character. He’s the right type of guy. And I think he’s going to be independent enough that he’s going to care about the institution of the Senate itself in the same way that Mitch does. So I’m optimistic. That’s why I support him.
But our duty as a Senate is to take a long-term view. We are elected from every state, and we want to take care of each state, but we also know the big picture of what is constitutionally right, and we always look at it from a national defense perspective. Must be. We are committed to national defense as our primary responsibility. Yes, there are some alternatives, but it’s very similar to what the president should have.
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