Thune hits breaking point with Trump

https://www.axios.com/2026/06/03/thune-trump-pushback-senate

Thune hits breaking point with Trump

Mike Zapler

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has broken with President Trump several times lately. — Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) talks to reporters outside his office June 01, 2026. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The shift the past few weeks has been subtle but unmistakable: John Thune sounds like a man who's had it with President Trump.

Why it matters: In a departure from the past 18 months, the Senate majority leader has publicly broken with the president on a string of recent controversies.

It's a sign that Trump's sway with congressional Republicans is waning as he approaches the back half of his term.

The latest: Trump named Bill Pulte — a MAGA attack dog who's used his position as the federal housing finance chief to go after the president's enemies — acting director of national intelligence on Tuesday, despite a resume with no apparent intelligence experience.

Thune's verdict: "We don't need a weaponized DNI, we need professionals there." If the White House wants Pulte in the job permanently, "he's got a lengthy road ahead of him," the Senate leader added.

The big picture: Thune, in his low-key manner, has made his differences with Trump known repeatedly in recent weeks.

"I'm not a big fan," Thune said of Trump's proposal for a $1.78 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. Critics, including much of the Senate Republican Conference, said the money could have been used to compensate rioters in the Jan. 6 attacks. "I don't see a purpose for it." At another point, he said the proposal "doesn't pass the smell test."
After the nonpartisan Senate parliamentarian ruled that money for Trump's proposed ballroom couldn't be included in an immigration enforcement bill, the president demanded she be fired: "Get smart and tough Republicans, or you'll all be looking for a job much sooner than you thought possible!"

Thune wouldn't bite. Instead, he argued the problem wasn't the parliamentarian — it was the vote count. He's repeatedly bucked Trump's call to do away with the filibuster.

Thune was visibly disappointed when Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the Texas Republican Senate primary — after months urging the president to get behind his friend and colleague, Sen. John Cornyn.
"None of us controls what the president does. He made his decision about that. That doesn't change the way I feel. I will certainly continue to be supportive of Sen. Cornyn," Thune told reporters. Cornyn lost in a rout.

Flashback: Thune and Trump have had run-ins before.

In Dec. 2020, Thune said efforts by some House members to reject the election results would "go down like a shot dog" in the Senate. "South Dakota doesn't like weakness," the president lashed out in response. "He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!"
Thune endorsed Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for president in 2024, then backed Trump after Scott dropped out. That came after Thune said he'd "always been worried" about Trump's viability as a general election candidate.

Yes, but: Thune has been with the president on his biggest priorities, from tariffs and nominees to immigration and tax cuts in the "One Big Beautiful Bill."

What they're saying: "I think the president has overwhelming support among Republicans across the country," Thune told reporters Tuesday. "We continue to listen to his advice and counsel and do everything we can to help the country succeed, because I think in the end that's what the American people expect, and frankly, that's what our jobs are all about."

"The White House and President Trump have enjoyed working closely with Leader Thune and Senate Republicans to deliver on many important promises to the American people, including the largest tax cut for working Americans in history," White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement. "While the media attempts to sow nonexistent divisions, we look forward to continuing this close relationship with Leader Thune and fulfilling President Trump's agenda that Americans elected him to enact."

The bottom line: Thune isn't staging a revolt, but his understated resistance speaks volumes.