The second highest ranking Senate Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, endorsed Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential bid after previously criticizing him.
Thune and Trump clashed after the 2020 election when Thune wouldn’t support Trump’s efforts to overturn the results.
“The president is, because of the ongoing claims about fraud in the election, got a lot of people very spun up, and I think he did a disservice to people across this country, including many in South Dakota that I’ve heard from who believe that the election was stolen,” Thune said at the time.
“The election was won and lost fairly and squarely,” the senator said. “There are always incidents of irregularities and fraud as there are in every election, but nothing on a level that would have changed any outcome in any state.”
However, Thune has since backed away from those claims and told Fox News he intends to support Trump’s campaign and ensure a Republican Senate majority working with him.
“I support former President Trump’s campaign to win the presidency, and I intend to do everything I can to see that he has a Republican majority in the Senate working with him to restore American strength at home and abroad,” Thune said.
“I don’t think you can hold him responsible for violent behavior, unless of course there, that can be proven that he encouraged that, which I have not seen,” Thune said.
“I have great concerns with the Senate punishing a private citizen with the sole intent of disqualifying him from holding future office,” Thune said.
Thune secured reelection in 2022 with 70% of the vote despite Trump urging a primary challenge in 2021.
Thune’s endorsement of Trump moves the former president closer to securing the GOP nomination and potentially more party unity ahead of the 2024 election.
Thune is seen as a potential successor to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
