Sen. John Thune (R-SD), a leading member of the Senate Republican leadership, threw his support behind former President Donald Trump following his victory in the South Carolina primary this weekend. The endorsement also follows news that a key conservative organization announced that it would stop its material support of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) following her loss.
The Senate Minority Whip endorsed Trump over Haley this weekend, saying that the former president was the right choice for the White House.
Thune said that the South Carolina win showed that “Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for president in this year’s pivotal presidential election. The choice before the American people is crystal clear: It’s Donald Trump or Joe Biden.”
Exclusive: No. 2 Senate Republican leader John Thune endorses Trump in 2024 Republican primary https://t.co/TKm0UA1ajx #FoxNews
— Bo Snerdley (@BoSnerdley) February 25, 2024
The number two Republican in the Senate said that he intends “to do everything I can to see that he has a Republican majority in the Senate working with him to restore American strength at home and abroad.”
“Together we must put an end to the disastrous Biden-Schumer agenda. Our country cannot endure another four years of Bidenomics, continued lawlessness at our southern border and American weakness on the global stage,” he said.
Trump was not Thune’s first choice. The South Dakota senator originally endorsed Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) in his campaign last year.
Since then, Scott has ended his campaign and is supporting Trump. Scott was mentioned by the former president as one of his potential picks for vice president.
In addition, Americans for Prosperity’s AFP Action announced that it would stop spending money on behalf of the campaign of Haley. The group had earlier pledged $27 million in support of the former South Carolina governor after endorsing her last year.
An email sent from the group said that the group would “continue to endorse her” but would “focus our resources where we can make the difference. And that’s the U.S. Senate and House.”
AFP Action’s email also said that the results in South Carolina showed that it was unlikely that “any outside group” could be a major factor in helping Haley try to earn the nomination.
