As Republicans seize Senate majority, meet Leader John Thune’s all-star cabinet
First up is Fox: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has chosen four top Republican allies to join his unofficial Cabinet as he looks to succeed longtime Republican leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. ) post to make his own impression on the House of Lords.
The new Republican leader has named Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) and Dem. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, advises and serves in his new role.
McConnell has his own hand-picked group of senators attending meetings with him. At times, that includes Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, Katie Britt, R-Alabama, Thom Tillis, R-Miss. Republican Sen. Roger Wicker and Nebraska Republican Sen. Deb Fischer.
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Thune succeeded McConnell as Republican leader. (Getty Images)
Elected leaders in the conference also regularly attend weekly leadership meetings, such as Iowa Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, Wyoming Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, Senate Republican Conference Chairman Cotton, Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (RW.Va.), Republican Conference Vice Chairman James Lankford (Okla.) R-Maria) and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
Each member of Thune’s new informal team has their own style and priorities.
Marsha Blackburn
Blackburn brings the advantage of her relationship with President-elect Trump and his sphere of influence. The Tennessee Republican has his finger on the pulse of the Make America Great Again movement and in that capacity helps the leadership team get as involved as possible.
She could also try to bridge the divide between conservative Republicans who have clashed with McConnell, Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, as Blackburn has been on several Be consistent with them on issues.
“My role in helping Leader Thune will be to advance the president’s nomination and ensure we support the president’s agenda in the Senate to make America great again,” Blackburn told Fox News Digital in a statement.
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Each of Thun’s informal advisors has different strengths. (Reuters)
Steve Daines
Daines, who just stepped down as NRSC chairman, during which he helped Republicans win the Senate majority, will also bring to the table his good relationship with Trump and his White House team. The senator also serves on the Finance Committee, which will be a focal point for Trump as he makes the tax debate one of his top priorities. Republicans are planning to extend key provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as they expire this year. Daines will be a key intermediary between committees and leadership working to implement Trump’s agenda.
The Montana Republican, who is also a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), brings critical knowledge of the intersection of policy and politics as Trump and the Republican Party set out to do whatever they can during his first 100 days in office. Accomplish missions, including taking action on several global issues.
“Senate Republicans are ready to get started on President Trump’s agenda of secure borders, lower taxes, safe cities, lower prices, affordable gas, an end to reckless spending and strong national security. I look forward to working with leaders on the plan and the rest of our colleagues to bring these victories to the American people,” Daines said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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Mullin is an important ally of Trump and has extensive connections in the House and Senate. (Senator Markwayne Mullin)
Markwayne Mullin
As a key link between Trump, the House and the Senate, Mullin is invaluable to his colleagues. He is the first senator to publicly support Thune as party leader, having previously been part of the deputy whip team. His strong relationship with Trump is expected to help guide the chamber’s relationship with the incoming president. Notably, Mullin is one of Trump’s 2024 campaign surrogates, traveling with the president-elect and vice president-elect J.D. Vance and assisting Republican Senate candidates across the country.
“It is an honor to step into Senator Thune’s leadership seat,” Mullin told Fox News Digital in a statement. “From border security and cutting regulations to funding our military and expanding tax relief, Leader Thune is the right person to lead the Senate in implementing President Donald J. Trump’s America First agenda. I’m proud to join him Join the fight. As leaders often say, “You will always make the extra pass if the other person is in a better position to shoot. “This is how we intend to govern this majority, and we will serve the American people to the best of our ability, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve the American people.”
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John Corning
As a 22-year veteran senator and former leadership member, Cornyn brings significant experience to Thune’s leadership team. The Texas senator sits on the all-important Budget Committee and is expected to make passing the budget and reining in federal spending one of his priorities in the role. He is also a member of the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) caucus that will help facilitate the formation of the new advisory committee announced by Trump. DOGE will be led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Now that Republicans control the Senate, House and president, they have their best opportunity in years to dictate spending levels.
Cornyn served in the Senate for more than 22 years. (Anna Chanmemaker/Getty Images)
In recent remarks, Cornyn outlined his priorities for this Congress. “We have an opportunity to deliver a huge victory for President Trump and, more specifically, for the American people, and that starts with the budget reconciliation process. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he stressed.
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“We cannot let this go to waste by taking advantage of this opportunity to finally address our soaring debt problem,” he said.
“We still have a lot of work to do, but this is an incredible opportunity and I’m confident we won’t squander it,” Koning concluded.
