Meet Leader John Thune’s star-studded cabinet as Republicans take over the Senate majority
FIRST ON FOX: Senate Majority Leader John Thune, RS.D.has tapped four key Republican allies to be part of his unofficial cabinet as he seeks to put his own stamp on the upper chamber after taking over from longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
The new leader of the Republicans chose 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 group of handpicked senators join him in meetings. At times, that included Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Thom Tillis, R.N.C., Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Deb Fischer, R-Neb.
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Thune succeeded McConnell as Republican leader. (Getty Images)
The weekly leadership meetings are regularly attended by elected conference leaders, such as Senate President Pro-Tempore Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Senate Republican Conference Chair Cotton, Senate Republican Policy Committee Chair Shelley Moore Capito, RW.Va., Republican Conference Vice Chairman James Lankford, R-Okla., and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) President Tim Scott, RS.C.
Each member of Thune’s new informal team brings with them their own style and priorities.
Marsha Blackburn
Blackburn brings with her the advantage of her connections 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 engaged as possible.
She may also try to bridge any gaps between a group of conservative Republicans who have clashed with McConnell, namely Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, since Blackburn has aligned with them on several issues.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Blackburn said, “My role in assisting Leader Thune will be to move the president’s nominees forward and ensure that we represent the president’s agenda in the Senate to make America great again.”
Each of Thune’s informal advisors brings different strengths to the table. (Reuters)
Steve Daines
Fresh off a term as NRSC chairman, during which he helped elect a Republican majority in the Senate, 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 sits on the Finance Committee, which will be at the center of 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 would expire this year. Daines will be a key conduit between the board and leadership as they work to deliver Trump’s plan.
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 accomplish as much as they can in the first 100 days of his administration—including action on several global issues.
“Senate Republicans are ready to get to work implementing President Trump’s agenda of secure borders, lower taxes, safe cities, lower prices, affordable gas, an end to reckless spending, and a strong national security. I look forward to working with Leader Thune and the rest of our colleagues to deliver these victory for the American people,” Daines said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
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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 before that he was part of his aide. His solid relationship with Trump is expected to help steer the relationship between the House and the incoming president. Namely, Mullin was one of Trump’s surrogates in the 2024 campaign, traveling with the newly elected President and Vice President JD Vance, as well as helping Republican Senate candidates across the country.
“It’s an honor to be included at the head of Senator Thune’s table,” Mullin told Fox News Digital in a statement. “From border security and tough regulations to funding our military and expanding tax credits, Leader Thune is the right person to lead the Senate’s efforts to implement President Donald J. Trump’s America First agenda. I am proud to be in this fight with him. As Leader he often says, ‘if someone else is in a better position to shoot, you always make the extra pass.’ That’s how we intend to manage this majority, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve.”
John Cornyn
As a 22-year veteran senator and former leadership member, Cornyn brings key experience to the Thune leadership team. The Texas senator is a member of the all-important budget committee, and passing a budget and reining in federal spending is expected to be one of his priorities in that capacity. He is also a member of the caucus of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which will help establish the new advisory board announced by Trump. DOGE will be led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Now in control of the Senate, House and presidency, Republicans have their best chance in years to dictate spending levels.
Cornyn spent more than 22 years in the Senate. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In a recent speech, Cornyn laid out his priorities for this Congress. “We have an opportunity to score big wins for President Trump and more specifically, for the American people, and that comes first through the budget reconciliation process. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he emphasized.
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“We cannot let this lapse without seizing 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 believe we will not squander.”
