Senator John Thune from South Dakota, a pro-crypto advocate and veteran GOP lawmaker, just won the vote to lead the Senate Republican majority next year.
Thune served as Mitch McConnell’s right-hand man for years, and he is stepping into the leadership role as McConnell retires after nearly two decades as the Republican leader. The GOP leader vote, held in secrecy, saw Thune beating Rick Scott — backed by Elon Musk — and another close McConnell ally, John Cornyn.
This victory places Thune at the forefront as the Republican party takes Senate control on January 3, aligning GOP policies with President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda, and it’s already hinting at a series of conflicts ahead.
Tariffs, free trade, and potential conflicts ahead
At 63, Thune is now in a role where he’ll have to juggle multiple factions of the party and the interests of a divided base. And despite being vocal about his support for free trade and pro-business policies, he has a tense history with Trump, especially after the Capitol riot in January 2021.
Thune has been working to mend that rocky relationship, though he made it clear he’s not just a rubber stamp for Trump. Just this week, he publicly stated he’s open to Trump’s demand for more power to bypass Senate confirmation proceedings with recess appointments.
But in other areas—like tariffs and free trade—Thune is miles apart from Trump’s view, and that difference could soon hit the headlines.
He made a post on X, formerly Twitter, that: “Senate Republicans are united behind President Trump’s agenda.” Musk, who now owns the platform, responded with a straightforward “Congratulations.”
Trump himself didn’t endorse any candidate in this Senate leadership contest, though his hand seems visible everywhere in this upcoming GOP-majority Senate.
In August, Thune warned that Trump’s tariffs would only crank up inflation, with consumers paying the price. “Global tariffs are a recipe for inflation,” he said, and with Trump’s agenda on tariffs moving ahead, this issue might soon put him directly at odds with the man he’ll be working alongside.
Congress has broad authority over tariffs, giving the president the power to make adjustments for national security. Trump could very well bypass the Senate on this, but if he does, it risks a public fight with Thune and a fracture within the GOP.
But trade policies aren’t the only hot-button issue that could split the new Senate leader and the president-elect. Thune also has a firm stance on foreign aid, specifically on support for Ukraine, an area where he and Trump’s vice president-elect, JD Vance, are polar opposites.
While Thune and McConnell have consistently supported Ukraine aid, Vance has been critical of sending more U.S. resources overseas. Thune’s support for Ukraine aid may add another layer of tension within the GOP’s ranks, especially as populist and isolationist voices grow louder in the party.
Thune’s record on crypto and legislative influence
Thune’s engagement in crypto legislation goes back a few years, and it’s clear that he sees the potential in crypto to transform finance and even the broader economy.
In 2022, he co-sponsored the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act (DCCPA), a major step toward bringing structure to crypto regulation. The act was aimed at defining the roles of regulatory bodies, particularly the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), in crypto oversight.
Thune has often said in private and public discussions that crypto “needs clear and sensible regulation.” Beyond crypto, Thune has long championed tax reform. He leads a Republican-backed bill to repeal the estate tax on large inheritances, something he’s argued penalizes family businesses and farms.
The current exemption stands at $27.2 million for couples, but without new legislation, it’s set to drop by half in 2026 due to sunset provisions from Trump’s 2017 tax law. Thune’s push to repeal the estate tax appeals to some of the GOP’s biggest campaign donors, who argue that inheritance taxes hit hardworking families unfairly.
Thune has also consistently pushed for biofuel support. Ethanol and biodiesel are critical to South Dakota’s economy, and Thune is one of the leading advocates for federal mandates on renewable fuels. His play has been to promote biofuels as part of an energy mix that reduces reliance on oil, a position that’s popular with rural voters and farmers.
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