Trump’s Tax Cuts Bill Tests Thune’s Senate Leadership/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces his first major challenge in pushing President Trump’s complex tax and spending bill through a divided Senate. With minimal room for GOP defections, Thune must balance internal demands and White House priorities. Success or failure will define his leadership trajectory.
Trump’s Tax Plan + Thune’s Challenge: Quick Looks
- High Stakes: Trump’s tax and spending bill must pass by July 4.
- GOP Divisions: Thune can afford only four GOP “no” votes.
- Thune’s Strategy: One-on-one senator meetings, flexible negotiation.
- Trump Relationship: Thune rebuilt ties after past 2020 criticism.
- Cabinet Wins: Thune quickly confirmed Trump’s appointees, earning early praise.
- McConnell Contrast: Thune’s collaborative style replaces McConnell’s top-down leadership.
- Senate Shift: New 15-minute vote deadlines signal a culture change.
- Major Critics: Sens. Rick Scott and Thom Tillis raise concerns on spending and energy tax credits.
Deep Look: Thune Faces Crucial Test in Trump’s Tax Push
WASHINGTON — Just six months into his role, Senate Majority Leader John Thune is under immense pressure to deliver President Donald Trump’s expansive tax and spending bill — a pivotal moment that could make or break his leadership.
The sweeping legislation, central to Trump’s second-term economic agenda, passed the House by a single vote after bruising negotiations. Now, it lands in the Senate, where Thune must juggle diverging GOP interests and a firm July 4 deadline set by the president.
While most Republican senators are inclined to support the bill, Thune can lose no more than four votes. That’s a razor-thin margin given that numerous GOP lawmakers have voiced opposition to parts of the legislation, especially concerning cuts to Medicaid and fast phaseouts of energy tax credits.
“This is when John’s leadership is going to be desperately needed,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who has concerns about key tax provisions. “You can say no all you want, as long as you don’t say no to the wrong 51 people.”
Thune, a South Dakota Republican known for his affable demeanor, is leaning into a more inclusive leadership style. He’s held frequent office meetings with small groups of senators to fine-tune sections of the bill and listen to their concerns — a stark departure from the more hierarchical style of former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
“It’s very much a change,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “Thune’s already made a lot of people happier just by listening.”
Even Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL), who ran against Thune for the leadership role and has been critical of the bill’s spending levels, praised Thune’s open-door approach. “I’d be very surprised if anybody doesn’t believe he’s receptive to their ideas,” Scott said.
Thune’s leadership is also being tested in his relationship with Trump, which was rocky during the 2020 election aftermath. He criticized Trump’s efforts to overturn the results, and Trump responded by withholding endorsement in Thune’s 2022 reelection. Despite that, the two have recently forged a productive working relationship, holding multiple meetings to ensure the Senate version of the bill aligns with Trump’s priorities.
“Failure is not an option,” Thune has declared repeatedly, acknowledging that while no version of the bill will satisfy everyone, a legislative win is critical for the party’s momentum ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Thune has already scored early wins by advancing Trump’s Cabinet picks swiftly and managing Senate procedures more efficiently. For example, he shortened the Senate’s notoriously long voting windows to 15 minutes — a change that irked some senators at first but ultimately earned respect.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) says the adjustment is emblematic of Thune’s leadership style: disciplined but fair. “Did he get yelled at a little bit? Yeah,” Rounds said. “But people learned quickly — be on time or miss your vote.”
While Trump pushes hard for tax reform, some Republicans like Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) want deeper spending cuts. Thune is negotiating with them privately, trying to avoid defections while holding the fragile coalition together.
On the Democratic side, opposition is solid. The party sees the bill as a giveaway to the wealthy and damaging to social safety nets — making Republican unity even more essential.
In contrast to his predecessor, Thune’s hands-on, consultative style is being welcomed by many in the GOP caucus. Whether it will be enough to overcome the deeply entrenched divisions and pass a bill of this magnitude remains to be seen.
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