On the record · Updated October 1, 2026
Senate Majority Leader
63 things John Thune said, verbatim, from March 26, 2026 to September 8, 2026, each linked to where it ran. Grouped by the questions at issue, with who supported, disputed, or qualified each one.
Positions
Qualifies
“I don’t ever try and sugarcoat things. I think it’s a competitive environment right now.”
ABC News Republicans open the first midterm convention in party history in Dallas, and fewer than half the candidates in competitive races are on the speaking list ›
Others on this question
“We’re going to win the Midterms, BIG, and SAVE AMERICA!”
More on the record
As printed
“What the president is insisting on is the strait be open. The Iranians are violating international law by having blockades there.”
Washington Examiner Johnson tells Trump to ‘wrap it up’ in Iran as president rejects midterm influence on war ›
As printed
“Ukraine is now the largest conflict, literally, since World War II in Europe,”
As printed
“And the Ukrainian people have been resilient, worked really, really hard to try and bring this war to an end. But as long as Putin has Russian oil and gas money, he’s able to continue this war. And what this sanctions bill would do would basically cut that off.”
NBC News Senate passes sanctions bill on Russia and Iran named for late Sen. Lindsey Graham ›
As printed
“I saw firsthand just how much he was respected by our allies, and just how well he was able to connect with foreign leaders around the globe.”
on a former official's rapport with allies and foreign leaders
As printed
“numerous presidents and heads of state have relied on his counsel.”
on Lindsey Graham's influence with world leaders, recalled after his death
USA Today Sen. Lindsey Graham dies at 71 after 'brief and sudden illness' ›
As printed
“I think that my understanding of what it entails – and, again, not having seen anything … I think the issues are going to be compliance, and how are you going to enforce that,”
As printed
“My assumption is that it's a function of, at some point, they understand they're going to have to, I think they've intimated as much, that they've got to get this in front of us,”
Latest Political News on Fox News Republicans bat down bid to handcuff Trump’s war powers as peace deal nears ›
As printed
“Democrats were so worked up over the president’s temporary choice for this position, they allowed our nation’s most important counterterrorism tool to go dark for the first time ever,”
As printed
“But they’re in no apparent rush to confirm a permanent director of national intelligence. They’ve opposed his nomination in committee. They’ve delayed things here on the floor. And I don’t expect we’ll see a lot of Democrat support for him in the final roll call.”
The Daily Wire Jay Clayton Confirmed As Trump’s New Spy Chief After Uproar From Dems ›
As printed
“Our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee have put forward a strong bill — a strong bill for our national security and for the men and women who defend our nation,”
on Senate Democrats blocking the defense policy bill over Iran war concerns
Politics - CBSNews.com Senate Democrats block must-pass defense policy bill over Iran war objections ›
As printed
“And, as I've said before, I think irrespective of what you think about Bill Pulte, providing the reforms that are included in the 702 reauthorization is a safeguard, regardless of who's in that job, or which party is in power here.”
Latest Political News on Fox News Trump concession breathes new life into stalled FISA spy powers deal ›
As printed
“The naming of Pulte to that position, although the timing arguably wasn't the best, I still don't think it ought to derail something that's this important,”
PBS NewsHour - Politics Senate blocks extending key surveillance program following backlash over Trump pick to lead intel ›
As printed
“We don't need a weaponized DNI. We need professionals there,”
on Trump authorizing new DNI Pulte to begin mass intelligence firings
Latest Political News on Fox News Trump green lights new DNI Pulte to 'start the process' on mass intelligence firings ›
As printed
“It’s an affordability issue, and eventually I hope he finds a way to sign it,”
As printed
“We've made the point a number of times, as you know, that we don't have the votes. But that's not a conclusion obviously he would like to see us draw,”
Politics - CBSNews.com Trump's obsession with SAVE America Act drives Congress into standoff ›
As printed
“I think they didn't want to spend the next, well … three months defending attacks from Republicans about wanting to shut the government down,”
As printed
“I think at some point, we’re going to need to do another reconciliation bill,”
As printed
“And I think they see an issue set that works for them going into the fall election, and I think they view a government shutdown or the prospect of not funding the government as creating uncertainty that perhaps didn't help their chances,”
Fox News Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty ›
As printed
“There’s been enough uncertainty this last year, and you know, unfortunately, I think through two government shutdowns that have extended for a long period of time, I think it’s better for everybody if there’s predictability,”
MSNBC ‘Whiffs of frozen hell and donkeys flying’: Senators sidestep one shutdown fight and set up another ›
As printed
“There's been enough uncertainty this last year, and, you know, unfortunately, I think through two government shutdowns that extended for a long period of time, it's better for everybody if there's predictability, certainty,”
Fox News Democrats blink as Schumer helps GOP clear key shutdown hurdle ›
As printed
“We need to ensure that they do not face a third,”
on Senate leaders reaching a funding deal to avoid a shutdown during campaign season
ABC News Senate leaders reach funding deal to avoid shutdown during campaign season ›
As printed
“Instead of pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats,”
As printed
“But we'll see. I mean, we'll have those conversations at the conference. The priority is funding the government. And, so, to me, that's the thing we've got to keep our eyes on.”
on Thune prioritizing government funding over Trump's election bill
Fox News GOP rift grows as Thune hits brakes on Trump's election bill to avert shutdown ›
As printed
“It’s 50 around here. And, so, instead of pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats.”
MSNBC ‘His patience is running out’: Team Trump intensifies fight against GOP’s John Thune ›
As printed
“It was not a good year on the government funding front, with two record-breaking government shutdowns,”
on the two government shutdowns during this year's funding fights
CBS News House and Senate take different paths to avoid shutdown before midterms ›
As printed
“It’s a possibility that, if necessary, we could pull that budget resolution passed by the House and use it to fund government,”
ABC News House Republicans push $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump's priorities ›
As printed
“quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports”
As printed
“But they didn’t. Because as is now clear to everyone, Democrats didn’t actually want a solution. They wanted an issue. Politics over policy. Self-interest, just over reform. Pandering to their base over actually solving a problem.”
The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts DHS Deal Funding TSA Clears First Hurdle — Now The Real Battle Begins ›
As printed
“We could be standing here right now, passing a funding bill with a list of reforms if Democrats had made the smallest effort to actually reach an agreement,”
on a DHS and TSA funding bill clearing its first procedural hurdle
The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts DHS Deal Funding TSA Clears First Hurdle — Now The Real Battle Begins ›
As printed
“It’s not even close to being real. They know better. They’re asking for things that have already been turned down. So it just seems like they’re going in circles,”
The Daily Wire - Breaking News, Videos & Podcasts Why DHS Funding Negotiations Are Falling Apart ›
As printed
“This is not the outcome that we wanted, but unfortunately, Democrats have shown themselves unwilling to support law enforcement,”
on the Senate's seventh failed vote to advance a bill partly funding DHS
US news | The Guardian US Senate fails for seventh time to advance bill to partly fund DHS ›
As printed
“We know how he feels on it. I'm not sure what the takeaway was for him regarding that, but I think it's fair to say that, you know, we've made the point a number of times, as you know, that we don't have the votes. But that's not a conclusion, obviously, he would like to see us draw.”
Politics - CBSNews.com Trump meets with GOP senators after refusing to sign housing bill ›
As printed
“But in the end, it’s about increasing the supply of housing in this country and making it more affordable, and I think that is something that the American people want to see us working on.”
on the House-passed bill meant to lower housing costs
NBC News Politics House passes sweeping bill to lower housing costs, sending it to Trump’s desk ›
As printed
“I mean, warrants and masks have never been on the table, and they know that,”
As printed
“I think there was a narrative starting to build out there based on what's happened the last 12 months, which I think, they probably — you know, these guys are political animals”
on Democrats caving on the shutdown fight before the midterms
Fox News Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty ›
As printed
“I have had conversations with him in the past as have many of my colleagues about the challenges he faces in his caucus. And there are many of us who, I think, would welcome the opportunity to have him join the Republican conference but ultimately that’s a decision that’s up to him.”
One America News Network Schumer urges Fetterman to remain a Democrat amid escalating party tensions ›
As printed
“Darline Graham is an excellent senator. She’ll continue to be an excellent senator, and she has my full support.”
As printed
“If we spend our time looking in the rearview mirror instead of through the windshield, we’ll drive our coalition right off a political cliff.”
As printed
“I think, in many respects, it would be a way of extending Lindsey’s legacy here, and certainly something that, if that’s what they decide to end up doing, I think there’d be a lot of support for,”
on support for keeping Lindsey Graham's sister in his Senate seat
Latest Political News on Fox News Lindsey Graham’s sister appointed to Senate as GOP rushes to protect fragile majority ›
As printed
“It's hard to divorce anything that happens here from what's happening in the political atmosphere around us,”
As printed
“It’s not something that we’re going to be able to get done absent having an election, electing some more Republicans.”
As printed
“The president has overwhelming support among Republicans across the country, as have been evident in a lot of the elections that have been held so far, and I think that’s reflected in the work that we do up here. Obviously we’ve got some tough issues in front of us,”
NBC News Politics 3 takeaways from our new poll: From the Politics Desk ›
As printed
“Because the other day I saw what Chuck Schumer was saying over and over again, we’re going to take down Susan Collins, and we will take back the Senate.”
Breitbart News Thune Says Midterm Strategy for GOP Is to Draw Contrast with Graham Platner, James Talarico ›
As printed
“It seems to me some days that I'm the only one here who can count to 50 in this town. But we don't have the votes to get rid of the filibuster. And we aren't flipping 10 Democrats to vote for the SAVE America Act,”
Fox News Reporter's Notebook: Summer ends, but the Senate's fall crunch begins ›
As printed
“Show me how this ends. What's the picture of victory at the end?”
on demanding Trump explain how staying in session passes the SAVE America Act
PBS NewsHour 'Show me how this ends.' Thune responds to Trump's escalated calls to pass SAVE America Act ›
As printed
“If somebody can show me how we get an outcome, how we get a result, how we get an answer to this, I'm all for it,”
on Thune's openness to a path forward on the SAVE Act
USA Today Trump demands Thune not let Senate leave until SAVE Act is passed ›
As printed
“Now, if he can change the facts, and start moving some of those senators who are no into yeses, then we can have a different conversation.”
on Thune's condition for advancing the SAVE Act in the Senate
USA Today Trump demands Thune not let Senate leave until SAVE Act is passed ›
As printed
“Instead of, you know, pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats,”
on Thune blaming Democrats for blocking Trump's elections legislation
CNN Thune and White House trade jabs over Trump’s controversial elections legislation ›
As printed
“I’ve seen no indication that Senator Thune does not support the SAVE Act — and let me put it more categorical, John Thune supports the SAVE Act, but we have some members who do not,”
on Thune's support for the Trump-backed SAVE Act elections bill
CNN Thune and White House trade jabs over Trump’s controversial elections legislation ›
As printed
“there are not the votes to nuke the filibuster and there aren't going to be 10 Democrat votes to all of a sudden support the SAVE America Act. Those are just hard realities and I think people at some point have to come to grips with that.”
on the legislative impossibility of Trump's SAVE Act without Democrats
Truthout Trump Uses Speech at Mount Rushmore to Warn Against “Communist Menace” ›
As printed
“He’s already serving in the role and clearly has experience in it. But this is an environment where nothing is a safe or sure bet.”
on the confirmation odds for Trump's DOJ pick amid GOP concerns
Latest Political News on Fox News Trump's DOJ pick in trouble as GOP concerns threaten confirmation ›
As printed
“It’s his prerogative to communicate how he wants to communicate. But at the end of the day, I have to deal with reality. And sometimes the alternative universe that is X doesn’t reflect the facts on the ground,”
on Trump's posts on X clashing with facts Thune has to deal with
CNN Trump is growing tired of hearing ‘no’ from Thune. GOP senators are lining up behind the majority leader ›
As printed
“This is his nominee, and so obviously he made a decision not to move forward at the moment,”
As printed
“I would like to be able to get as much business done as we can, knowing full well that when we get back here in September, it's going to be a mad rush to Election Day,”
on the Senate trying to clear its agenda before the fall rush to Election Day
CBS News Senate eyes deal to leave for recess as agenda items pile up ›
As printed
“But we also know we have to have 50 votes. And at the moment, as I've said before, we're probably not there.”
USA Today From SAVE to Iran war cash, Republicans in Congress are at stark odds ›
As printed
“It’s a well-known fact around here . . . we don’t have the votes.”
As printed
“Anything you send to the House right now probably has the possibility of other things getting attached to it, but I'm hoping, at least over here, there's some critical mass behind this,”
Latest Political News on Fox News 'A big effing deal': Graham's final mission moves forward after his death ›
As printed
“understanding what the president wanted to accomplish, working with him in order to do that, but also being very clear about what is and isn't achievable in the Senate.”
As printed
“His influence on the federal judiciary, our national defense, and his beloved South Carolina will be felt for generations,”
on tributes to Sen. Lindsey Graham after his death at 71
As printed
“The only way you could get there is to undo or get rid of the legislative filibuster, and there aren’t even close to the votes here in the United States Senate in order to achieve that,”
NBC News Politics Senate Republicans grow increasingly frustrated with Trump blindsiding them ›
As printed
“We're the Article I branch. The president, this is his nominee, and so obviously he made a decision not to move forward at the moment, and we'll see what comes next.”
on Trump halting Clayton's confirmation hearing as his Senate nominee
Politics - CBSNews.com Senate postpones Clayton's confirmation hearing after Trump upends plans ›
As printed
“I think obviously most of our members are pretty deferential to who the president wants in these key positions,”
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