John Thune in the Hot Seat: GOP Lawmaker Pushes for Leadership Shake-Up. The Loaded Gunn Rapid Fire on John.
Representative John Rose, a Tennessee Republican, said Senate Majority Leader John Thune should step aside following the Senate’s early Friday passage of a funding bill that would have ended the 43-day partial government shutdown, but did not include funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through September 30.
“We should call on Thune to step aside,” Rose told Newsmax host Todd Starnes on Friday.
Meanwhile, Representative Tim Burchett, also a Tennessee Republican, stopped short of naming Thune directly but criticized Senate leadership during a Sunday appearance on Fox News’ The Sunday Briefing.
“The stereotype of Congress—and it’s well deserved—is that we pass things in the dark of night because we don’t have any guts. That’s exactly what we’re seeing in Senate leadership,” Burchett said. “I think they need new leadership over there.”
During an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, Representative Nancy Mace said Sunday that Thune has become a “thorn in the side” of the Republican Party after House GOP leadership rejected the Senate’s funding bill.
“We’re not the problem. The left is the problem,” Mace said. “And now Senator Thune has become a problem and a thorn in the side of the Republican Party. It’s become a national problem.”
As someone who has known Thune for most of my life, I find myself in a difficult position. It’s hard for me to defend him outright, but it’s also hard to place all the blame on him when he simply doesn’t have the votes.
Some of you have urged me to go after my friend. My question in response is always the same: what, specifically, would you have him do? More often than not, there’s no clear answer.
I’ve never hesitated to criticize politicians on either side of the aisle—you’ve seen me do it with Kristi Noem and Dusty Johnson. But it’s difficult to attack someone when neither I nor those calling for it can point to a realistic path forward—especially on something like passing the SAVE Act.
I’ve known John personally for years. I’ve gone to church with him and attended private events alongside him. Whenever we meet, he greets me by name and takes the time to ask how I’m doing. That kind of character matters.
That said, personal respect doesn’t prevent disagreement. I’m willing to call out where I think he’s wrong. But if anyone has a clear, workable solution to the gridlock in Washington—or a way to move the senators currently holding up a vote—I’m all ears. And I’m sure Thune is too.
