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Trump Picks Up Major Endorsement

Senate Minority Whip John Thune, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate from South Carolina, has publicly backed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential race, as confirmed by his office to various news organizations.

This endorsement is particularly significant as it comes from a highly respected figure within the Senate, often regarded as a serious policymaker and a potential successor to the current Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

According to reports, Thune had a conversation with Trump over the phone on a Saturday evening following Trump’s victory in the South Carolina primary. This development was highlighted by a campaign-related account on X, previously known as Twitter, which shared the news as reported by Fox News.

Although Thune has expressed criticism towards Trump in the past and has diverged from him on significant legislative decisions, his recent endorsement is a testament to Trump’s enduring influence within the Republican Party.

Thune had previously stated last month that he would support the Republican Party’s final candidate, noting Trump’s strong position in the race for the nomination. “The voters’ preference is clear, and they are overwhelmingly in favor of him. He’s in a dominant position, and I’ve consistently said I’ll back our nominee,” Thune remarked. He emphasized his commitment to assisting the party in securing the presidency and the Senate to counteract the agenda set by President Biden and Senator Schumer.

As the race heats up, more Republican senators are feeling the pressure to throw their support behind the leading candidate. Senators John Barrasso of Wyoming and John Cornyn of Texas, both considered potential successors to McConnell, have already endorsed Trump. Barrasso was among the early supporters, while Cornyn made his endorsement following Trump’s win in the New Hampshire primary.

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina also threw his support behind Trump after halting his own presidential campaign. This was a significant development, especially since some were hopeful that Scott would back Nikki Haley, who had appointed him to the Senate during her tenure as governor of South Carolina. Despite these endorsements, Haley remains in the race, challenging Trump for the party’s nomination. However, Trump’s recent primary victory in South Carolina by a substantial margin highlights his strong position within the party and the challenges his opponents face.


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