Meet Leader John Thune’s star-studded cabinet as Republicans control the Senate majority

First on Fox: Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has picked four top Republican allies as he tries to make his mark at the top after taking the mantle from longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. .

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

McConnell had a personal select group of senators join him for meetings. Sometimes Sens. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Katie Britt, R-Ala., Tom Tillis, R-N.C., Roger Wicker, R-Miss. and Deb Fisher, R-Neb.

Before confirmation hearings, Schumer ordered pressure on Trump’s nominees.

Weekly leadership meetings are also held by select leaders in the conference 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) Chairman Tim Scott, RSC.

Each member of Tune’s new informal group brings with them their own style and priorities.

Marcia Blackburn

Blackburn brought her relationship with President Trump and her position of influence to her advantage. The Tennessee Republican has her finger on the pulse of the “Make America Great Again” movement, and in that capacity she can keep the leadership team as tight as possible.

Blackburn has sided with them on many issues, including Sens. Rick Scott, R-Fla., among a group of conservative Republicans at odds with McConnell. And she could try to bridge the gap between Rep. Mike Lee, R-Utah.

In a statement, Blackburn told Fox News Digital, “My role as a leader is to help move the president’s nominees forward and ensure that we can achieve the president’s agenda in the Senate to make America great again.”

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Steve Danes

As chairman of the NRSC, where he helped elect a Republican Senate majority, Dines brings to the table his great relationship with Trump and the team he brings to the White House. Senator Trump sat front and center on the Finance Committee during the tax debate, one of the key issues. Republicans plan to extend key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to expire this year. Daines will be a key liaison between the committee and the administration and will work to achieve Trump’s agenda.

Also sitting on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), the Montana Republican brings key expertise in policy and political communication, including what Trump and the GOP plan to do in the first 100 days of his administration. Action on several international issues.

“Senate Republicans are ready to get to work implementing President Trump’s agenda of secure borders, tax cuts, safe cities, lower prices, affordable gas, ending reckless spending and a strong national security. It’s up to the rest of our colleagues to deliver these victories to the American people,” said Dines. He said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Markwayne Mullin

Mullin has made himself valuable to his colleagues as a key link between Trump, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Tun was the first senator to be officially endorsed for the leadership role, and was previously a member of the deputy whip team. His strong relationship with Trump is expected to help guide the relationship between the chamber and the incoming president. Notably, Mullin was one of Trump’s 2024 campaign surrogates, traveling with President-elect and Vice President J.D. Vance as well as helping Republican Senate candidates across the country.

“It is an honor to be included at Senator Thune’s leadership table,” Mullin said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “From border security and deregulation to funding our military and extending tax relief, 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 the leader often says, ‘Another If someone is in a better position to take the shot, they always make an extra pass.’ This is how we intend to manage this majority, and it is all hands on deck to deliver it to the American people, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to serve.

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John Cornyn

As a 22-year veteran senator and former leadership member, Cornyn brings significant experience to the Thun leadership team. The Texas senator is the most important member of the budget committee and is expected to make passing a budget and improving federal spending one of the top priorities in that role. He is a member of the DOGE Caucus on Government Efficiency, which will help facilitate the new advisory board announced by Trump. DOGE is headed by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Now in control of the Senate, House and presidency, Republicans have their best record in years of setting spending levels.

In recent floor remarks, Corney outlined his priorities for this Congress. “We have an opportunity to pass major victories for President Trump and especially for the American people, and this is the first in the budget reconciliation process. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” he said.

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“We cannot let this opportunity go to waste by not taking advantage of this opportunity to address our ever-increasing debt,” he said.

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