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Meet Leader John Thune’s all-star cabinet as Republicans take Senate majority


FIRST ON FOX: Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D.has tapped four top Republican allies to be part of his unofficial cabinet as he looks to make his own impression on the upper chamber after taking over from GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

The new Republican leader has touched Sens. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.Steve Daines, R-Mont., Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, to advise him in his new role and participate in key leadership meetings.

McConnell had his own handpicked group of senators who joined him for the meetings. At times, that included Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Thom Tillis, RN.C., Roger Wicker, R-Miss. and Deb Fischer, R-Neb.

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John Thune

Thune succeeded McConnell as Republican leader. (Getty Images)

The weekly leadership meetings are also regularly attended by elected conference leaders, including Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Republican Senate Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., the chairman of Senate Republican Conference Cotton, the chairwoman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. Shelley Moore Capito, RW.Va., Republican Conference Vice Chairman James Lankford, R-Okla., and Senate Republican National Committee (NRSC) President Tim Scott, RS.C.

Each of Thune’s new casual team members brings their own style and priorities along with them.

Marsha Blackburn

Blackburn brings with her the advantage of her ties to President-elect Trump and his sphere of influence. The Tennessee Republican has her finger on the pulse of the “Make America Great Again” movement, and in that capacity can help keep the leadership team as connected as possible.

He may also try to bridge any gap between the group of conservative Republicans who clashed with McConnell, namely Sens. Rick Scott, R-Florida, and Mike Lee, R-Utah, as Blackburn has aligned himself with them in various topics.

In a statement, Blackburn told Fox News Digital, “My role in helping Leader Thune will be to advance the president’s nominees and make sure we defend the president’s agenda in the Senate to make America great again.” .

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Markwayne Mullin, Marsha Blackburn, Steve Daines, John Cornyn

Thune’s informal advisors each bring different strengths to the table. (Reuters)

Steve Daines

After a stint as president of the NRSC, during which he helped elect a Republican Senate majority, Daines will also bring to the table his great relationship with Trump and the team he brings with him to the White House. The senator also serves on the finance committee, which will be at the helm during the tax debate that Trump has made one of his top priorities. Republicans plan to extend key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 as they expire this year. Daines will be a key conduit between the committee and leadership as they work to deliver on Trump’s agenda.

Also sitting on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), the Montana Republican brings key knowledge of the intersection of policy and politics as Trump and the GOP set out to get as much as they can in the first 100 days of his administration, including action on various global issues.

“Senate Republicans are ready to get to work enacting President Trump’s agenda of a secure border, lower taxes, safe cities, lower prices, affordable gas, an end to reckless spending, and strong national security . I look forward to working with Leader Thune and the rest of our colleagues to deliver these victories to the American people,” Daines said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Markwayne Mullin, Donald Trump

Mullin is a key Trump ally who is well connected in both the House and Senate. (Markwayne Mullin for the Senate)

Markwayne Mullin

Mullin has become invaluable to his colleagues as a key link between Trump, the House and the Senate. He was the first senator to publicly endorse Thune for the leadership role, and previously served on his deputy team. His strong relationship with Trump is expected to help guide relations between the chamber and the incoming president. Notably, Mullin was one of Trump’s 2024 campaign surrogates, traveling with President-elect and Vice President-elect JD Vance, as well as helping Republican Senate candidates around the country.

“It is an honor to be included in Senator Thune’s leadership table,” Mullin told Fox News Digital in a statement. “From border security and cutting regulations to funding the military and expanding tax relief, Leader Thune is the right person to lead the Senate’s effort to implement the America First agenda of President Donald J. Trump. I’m proud to be in this fight. As the leader often says, “If someone else is in a better position to make the shot,” that’s how we intend to rule this majority. Everything is a hand for the American people, and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve.”

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John Cornyn

As a 22-year veteran senator and former leadership member, Cornyn brings crucial experience to Thune’s leadership team. The Texas senator is a member of the important budget committee and is expected to make passing a budget and reducing federal spending one of his priorities in that capacity. He is also a member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus, which will help facilitate the new advisory council announced by Trump. DOGE will be led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Now in control of the Senate, the House and the presidency, Republicans have their best chance in years to dictate spending levels.

his John Cornyn

Cornyn has spent more than 22 years in the Senate. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

In recent remarks, Cornyn laid out his priorities for this Congress. “We have an opportunity to achieve great victories for President Trump and, more specifically, for the American people, and that happens first through the budget reconciliation process. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said. underlined

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“We cannot let this go to waste by not taking this opportunity to finally address our skyrocketing debt,” he said.

Cornyn concluded: “We have a lot of work to do, but this is an incredible opportunity that I trust we will not waste.”





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