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In a public, post-election rebuke of the ‘Make America Great Again’ movement, Republicans in the United States Senate rejected president-elect Donald Trump‘s preferred choice to lead the chamber – instead choosing a longtime Trump opponent as their majority leader.
By a 29-24 secret ballot vote, the 53-member GOP majority chose U.S. senator John Thune of South Dakota to lead the chamber over U.S. senator John Cornyn of Texas. Trump’s preferred choice for the job – U.S. senator Rick Scott of Florida – didn’t even make the final round of balloting after being backed by just 13 senators on the first vote.
After Scott was knocked out of the race on an initial ballot, senators selected Thune over Cornyn to replace outgoing GOP leader Mitch McConnell.
How did each senator vote? Again, the tally was done in secret… meaning there can be no accountability over this incredibly consequential decision.
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Scott was backed by numerous Trump luminaries including Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tucker Carlson, to name just a few. He also seemed to be gaining momentum after two U.S. senators – Mike Lee of Utah and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee – threw their support behind him on the eve of the vote.
In addition to Lee and Blackburn, senators Ted Cruz of Texas, Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Marco Rubio of Florida and Tommy Turbeville of Alabama publicly supported Scott for majority leader.
Only four U.S. senators – Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, John Hoeven of North Dakota – publicly endorsed Thune.
Thune issued a statement on Wednesday vowing to support Trump and advance his agenda.
“This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda,” Thune said. “And our work starts today.”
Trump backers remain skeptical of Thune, who called on Trump to drop out of the 2016 election over crude remarks made to a television host – and who waited until Trump had effectively secured the GOP nomination earlier this year to belatedly endorse his candidacy.
“He has a short window to show us he will support President Trump, fill his cabinet, confirm his judges, and pass his agenda,” Trump backer Charlie Kirk wrote on X. “If he does, we will support him. If he doesn’t, we will work to remove him.”
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …
Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.
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2 comments
“Scott was backed by numerous Trump luminaries including Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tucker Carlson, to name just a few.”
Rick Scott committed the largest Medicare fraud in history, No wonder Trump likes him. Criminals stick together.
Soon the Dementor that animates the walking corpse that is Mitch McConnell will hand the keys to his current ride over to the grim reaper in the grass- covered car lot and stroll brisky into his new ride that is Thune.