Pressure grows on McConnell, Thune after Trump victory

Former President Trump's landslide victory in the New Hampshire primary has led to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. John Thune (R-Ky.), both Senate leaders, often at odds with the former president. are doing.

Republicans in both houses of Congress have become increasingly united behind Trump as the Republican candidate, and attention has turned to prominent Republicans who have not endorsed the former president.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), a McConnell ally and member of the Senate Republican leadership, spoke minutes after Trump's endorsement of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in New Hampshire. supported Trump as presidential candidate.

So did Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), an adviser to Mr. McConnell and another member of his leadership team.

Both men have not previously been involved in Republican campaigns, but have now joined Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in supporting Trump.

Mr. Thune supported Sen. Tim Scott (R.S.C.), but has now withdrawn from the race and is backing the former president. McConnell has not publicly endorsed Republican candidates, but he has made clear his differences with his predecessor.

Trump supporters are increasing pressure on Haley to withdraw from the race and for other Republicans to support Trump so the party can unify ahead of November.

“If you're not all on board, you're helping the Democrats and you're making that calculation,” Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) told The Hill. “Those who have struggled with Trump and have had a volatile history need to be involved if we are to win and not be disappointed.”

But Brown acknowledged that “that might be difficult for some people.”

McConnell's relationship, or lack thereof, is no secret, with the former president consistently criticizing the Republican leader since his 2020 re-election loss, and McConnell occasionally taking jabs of his own.

McConnell delivered a scathing speech on the Senate floor after President Trump's impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 riot but did not vote to convict Kentucky, the longest-serving Senate leader in history, due to bad blood. Some question whether the state's native will continue to rule. It will end if Trump wins a second term.

“Mitch is a pretty down-to-earth guy,” said Democratic Sen. Kevin Cramer, a Trump supporter. “I think part of the question is, can Mr. Trump work with Mr. Mitch? That may be a more difficult question.”

Tuesday's intrigue could loom over the question of who will replace Republican leadership if Trump wins and McConnell resigns.

Some Republicans saw Mr. Cornyn's endorsement as a move to win the top job in the conference. Cornyn, Thune and Barrasso are known as the “Three Johns” and are seen as leading candidates to replace McConnell.

One Republican senator said the hypothetical battle would become a real toss-up between Thune and Cornyn if Trump regained the presidency.

The Republican senator said Cornyn courted Trump supporters with his Tuesday night endorsement and attended most of the weekly Senate Republican Steering Committee lunches, which include about 15 to 20 conservative senators. He said he was in attendance and could potentially give him a favorable review. Step up with that crowd.

Additionally, Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, has supported Scott from the beginning, and while Scott has the institutional advantages that come with a leadership position, Scott and the former president are in an even position. It pointed out. A second Senate Republican noted that Thune has a strong reputation as a whip and is seen as a legislator-centered and excellent communicator.

Thune's relationship with Trump is less frosty than McConnell's, but he has broken up with Trump multiple times since Trump's defeat in 2020. The South Dakota Republican said efforts to overturn the 2020 Electoral College count would fail like “a shot dog,” drawing the ire of President Trump.

As a result, Mr. Trump and his allies set out to find a primary challenger to his fourth term in the Senate. In the end, Thune won reelection by 43 percentage points, a larger margin of victory than South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), a powerful Trump ally, in the same year.

Thune reiterated his support for the final party nominee Wednesday, saying Trump appears to be on a strong path to winning the Republican presidential nomination for a third consecutive year after his win in the Granite State. added.

“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 the candidate.” Thun said. “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.”

In contrast to the practical question of whether Trump could work with McConnell, Cramer said he has no concerns about Trump and Thune working together if the South Dakotan succeeds McConnell. He said no.

“There's no question he can work together,” Kramer said of the pair's potential.

“What I don't want to see is hostility towards our candidates,” he said after the “Access Hollywood” video was released a month after then-House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Trump) He spoke, citing his time in the House of Representatives when he did not want to join him. Before the 2016 election. “My hope, and my observation about all of these leaders, is that they're down-to-earth people who will ultimately work together.”

Overall, 29 Senate Republicans support Trump. Famous for being closely monitored On who is supporting his campaign.

And some Senate Republicans signaled Wednesday that they had no immediate plans to support it, at least for now.

Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) said he would wait until after the primary to support the final nominee.

Ricketts and Trump were at the center of a Republican primary proxy battle over who would replace Ricketts as governor. The candidate Ricketts supported, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R), ultimately defeated Trump's favorite Charles Herbster.

Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) told The Hill his thoughts have not changed and he plans to remain on the sidelines, while Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican's most prominent moderate, (R-Maine) added that he would not support the former president.