Thune Discusses Ongoing Communication with Trump Amid Legislative Challenges

Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated that his working relationship with former President Donald Trump is not as strained as some reports suggest. In an interview, Thune mentioned that he has communicated with Trump multiple times recently, despite Trump's public comments questioning Thune's leadership regarding the SAVE America Act. Thune emphasized that both he and Trump aim for similar outcomes but may have different approaches to achieving them. He acknowledged the challenges in passing the SAVE America Act, noting that all Senate Democrats have opposed it during previous votes. Thune, an original co-sponsor of the bill, expressed interest in exploring budget reconciliation as a potential path forward, although he highlighted the difficulty in securing the necessary votes. He also reflected on the Senate's design, which requires bipartisan cooperation to advance legislation, and the frustrations that come with procedural obstacles.