John Thune Faces First Major Test as Senate Leader with Trump’s Tax Bill on the Line

WASHINGTON — Just six months into his new role as Senate Majority Leader, Sen. John Thune is facing a defining moment — and the pressure is on.

Thune’s first big challenge? Navigating President Donald Trump’s sweeping tax and spending bill through a sharply divided GOP Senate, all while racing against a July 4 deadline set by Trump himself.

The stakes are sky-high: Thune can only afford to lose four Republican votes to pass the bill, and several GOP senators have already raised serious concerns. Meanwhile, Democrats are united in opposition.

“This is when John’s leadership is going to be desperately needed,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), one of the skeptics of the bill’s fast phaseout of certain energy tax credits.

A Tightrope Walk for Thune and the GOP

To get the legislation across the finish line, Thune must strike a delicate balance. He needs to keep his conference unified without alienating House Republicans, who barely passed the bill by a single vote last month after intense internal wrangling.

It’s a complex and risky endeavor — one that could define Thune’s first year as leader and cement his working relationship with Trump.

Despite their rocky history, Thune has stayed in close touch with the White House, making multiple visits to discuss the bill with the former president.

“Individual pieces of it people don’t like,” Thune acknowledged this week. “But in the end, we have to succeed.”

A New Style of Senate Leadership

Thune’s leadership marks a stark contrast to his predecessor, Sen. Mitch McConnell, known for his tightly controlled inner circle and often icy relationships with colleagues.

Thune has taken a more open-door approach, hosting small group and one-on-one meetings with senators to hear their concerns.

“It’s very much a change,” said Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-ND). “He’s already made a lot of people happier just by listening.”

Even Florida Sen. Rick Scott — a former rival who ran against Thune for the leadership post and remains critical of the bill’s lack of deeper spending cuts — has praised Thune’s willingness to listen.

“I’d be very surprised if anybody doesn’t believe he’s receptive to their ideas,” Scott said. “And when people feel heard, there’s a greater chance they’ll go along with something.”

Mending Fences with Trump

Thune and Trump have had a complicated relationship. Thune was one of the few Republicans who criticized Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Trump didn’t endorse Thune’s reelection bid in 2022, and Thune initially backed Sen. Tim Scott in the 2024 primary.

But the two have since reconciled, finding common ground as Thune works to shepherd Trump’s legislative priorities through the Senate.

Running a Tighter Ship in the Senate

While Thune has earned goodwill for his collaborative style, he’s also shown he’s not afraid to crack the whip.

He’s shortened Senate vote times from hours to just 15 minutes — a move that surprised some lawmakers and caused a few to miss key votes at first. But the message was clear: punctuality matters.

“Did he get yelled at a little bit? Yeah,” said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD). “But once they got cut off once or twice, they realized — if you want to vote, make it on time.”

Can Thune Deliver?

With less than a month to meet Trump’s July 4 deadline, Thune’s ability to bridge ideological divides and keep his party together will be tested like never before.

The outcome of the tax bill won’t just determine the fate of a major piece of Trump’s economic agenda — it may also define John Thune’s legacy as a Senate leader.

“Everybody wants to work with John,” said Rounds. “He’s not making anybody mad right now.”

For now, Thune has the goodwill of his colleagues and the confidence of the president. Whether that’s enough to pull off a political balancing act of this scale remains to be seen.