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Senator John Thune from South Dakota, a pro-crypto advocate and veteran GOP lawmaker, just won the vote to lead the Senate Republican majority next year. Thune served as Mitch McConnell’s right-hand man for years, and he is stepping into the leadership role as McConnell retires after nearly two decades as the Republican leader. The GOP leader vote, held in secrecy, saw Thune beating Rick Scott — backed by Elon Musk — and another close McConnell ally, John Cornyn.  This victory places Thune at the forefront as the Republican party takes Senate control on January 3, aligning GOP policies with President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, and it’s already hinting at a series of conflicts ahead. Tariffs, free trade, and potential conflicts ahead At 63, Thune is now in a role where he’ll have to juggle multiple factions of the party and the interests of a divided base. And despite being vocal about his support for free trade and pro-business policies, he has a tense history with Trump, especially after the Capitol riot in January 2021. Thune has been working to mend that rocky relationship, though he made it clear he’s not just a rubber stamp for Trump. Just this week, he publicly stated he’s open to Trump’s demand for more power to bypass Senate confirmation proceedings with recess appointments. But in other areas—like tariffs and free trade—Thune is miles apart from Trump’s view, and that difference could soon hit the headlines. He made a post on X, formerly Twitter, that: “Senate Republicans are united behind President Trump’s agenda.” Musk, who now owns the platform, responded with a straightforward “Congratulations.” Trump himself didn’t endorse any candidate in this Senate leadership contest, though his hand seems visible everywhere in this upcoming GOP-majority Senate. In August, Thune warned that Trump’s tariffs would only crank up…

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Filed under: News - @ November 13, 2024 8:23 pm