Senate Minority Whip John Thune (RS.C.) is supporting former President Trump as a presidential candidate in 2024, his office confirmed to multiple media outlets.
Thune’s endorsement marks a high-profile victory for Trump, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, who is expected to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), a serious lawmaker. is considered a candidate.
Fox News reported that Thune spoke by phone with Trump on Saturday night after Trump won the South Carolina primary. report. X (formerly Twitter) account operated by the Trump campaign, Posted Fox News coverage.
The Hill has reached out to Thune’s office for confirmation.
Thune has occasionally criticized Trump and disagreed with him on several important votes. This weekend’s endorsement only underscores Trump’s tight grip on the party.
Thune said last month that he would support whoever the final Republican nominee is, adding that Trump appears to be on a strong path to victory in the upcoming primaries.
“I’m interested in what people are saying, but voters are very supportive of him. He’s in a commanding position and I’ve said all along that I support this candidate. ” Thun said last month. “If he is the nominee, he will do everything he can to help his team win the president and the Senate and put an end to the Biden and Schumer agenda.”
Republican senators have faced increasing pressure in recent weeks to support their party’s front-runner.
Two other candidates are supporting Mr. Trump as candidates to succeed Mr. McConnell. They are Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), an early supporter of Trump, and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who announced his support after Trump won the New Hampshire primary.
Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.) announced his support for Trump after Trump suspended his own presidential campaign. Some remained hopeful that Scott would support Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, whom she first appointed to the U.S. Senate when she was governor of South Carolina.
Haley remains Trump’s final opponent in the presidential primary. On Saturday, Trump won about 60% of the vote in the primary, compared with about 40% for Haley, according to The Hill/Decision Desk’s election tracker. won by a difference of .
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