Elections

Senate Republicans Elect John Thune as Majority Leader; Trump Taps Marco Rubio for Secretary of State

Published

4 weeks ago

November 13, 2024

In a major reshuffle within Senate Republican leadership, Senator John Thune of South Dakota has been elected as the next Senate majority leader. Following a private vote on Wednesday, Thune’s victory highlights a new chapter for Senate Republicans as they prepare to support President-elect Donald Trump’s agenda in the 119th Congress. Thune, previously an ally of longtime Senate leader Mitch McConnell, emerged victorious in a closely watched, two-round election that saw him edge out Senator John Cornyn (R., Texas) and Senator Rick Scott (R., Fla.), both formidable contenders in the leadership race.

The vote, conducted behind closed doors, came down to a head-to-head battle between Thune and Cornyn. Thune ultimately prevailed by a 29-24 margin after Scott was eliminated in the first round. The selection of Thune reflects a mix of his deep-rooted relationships within the Senate and policy alignment with Trump’s vision. Following his election, Thune expressed his gratitude, saying, “I am extremely honored to have earned the support of my colleagues to lead the Senate in the 119th Congress. I am beyond proud of the work we have done to secure our majority and the White House. This Republican team is united behind President Trump’s agenda, and our work starts today.” He added that Senate Republicans would focus on Trump’s priorities, such as immigration reform and bolstering U.S. energy independence.

In other leadership changes, Senator John Barrasso (R., Wyo.) was elected as the Senate majority whip, the second-highest leadership position, while Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) was appointed GOP conference chair after defeating Senator Joni Ernst (R., Iowa) for the role.

In a strategic appointment to his incoming cabinet, President-elect Donald Trump announced that Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) will serve as Secretary of State. Rubio, who has been a senator since 2011, is known for his strong foreign policy stances and support of Trump’s “America First” approach. Rubio’s nomination will go before the GOP-controlled Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, for confirmation. If confirmed, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will appoint a successor to fill Rubio’s Senate seat.

Trump lauded Rubio’s dedication to U.S. foreign policy, stating, “Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom… He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries.” Rubio has been a vocal supporter of key Trump administration positions, including strong support for Israel and a

firm stance against adversaries like Iran, China, and Russia. Once regarded as a neoconservative, Rubio has increasingly aligned with Trump, transforming from a primary challenger in 2016 to a close ally.

Another large announcement was when President-elect Trump nominated Representative Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) as Attorney General. Gaetz, a prominent conservative and attorney with a background in criminal justice reform, is expected to bring a strong focus on transforming the Department of Justice. Trump praised Gaetz’s legal skills and commitment to reform, saying, “Matt is a deeply gifted and tenacious attorney… who has distinguished himself in Congress through his focus on achieving desperately needed reform at the Department of Justice.”

Trump stated Gaetz’s alignment with his goal of “ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System.” As Attorney General, Gaetz would be tasked with dismantling criminal organizations, strengthening border security, and restoring public confidence in the DOJ. Gaetz has been a vocal member of the House Judiciary Committee, where he has overseen DOJ activities and was involved in investigating the FBI’s handling of past investigations.

Gaetz expressed his gratitude for the nomination on social media, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “It will be an honor to serve as President Trump’s Attorney General!” Gaetz’s confirmation process will go before the Republican-led Senate.

Elections

Canada Beefs up Border Security After Trump Threatened Sweeping Tariffs

Published

1 week ago

December 3, 2024

Sara Carter Staff

In November, president-elect Donald Trump announced on social media that he would impose a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico if they do not take an active role in containing illegal immigration as well as the level of illicit drugs entering into the United States.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with Trump at his residence in Mar-a-Lago, after which the Canadian government vowed to secure the border. “We got, I think, a mutual understanding of what they’re concerned about in terms of border security,” Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc, who accompanied Trudeau at Mar-a-Largo, said of the meeting in an interview with Canadian media. “All of their concerns are shared by Canadians and by the government of Canada.”

“We talked about the security posture currently at the border that we believe to be effective, and we also discussed additional measures and visible measures that we’re going to put in place over the coming weeks,” LeBlanc continued. “And we also established, Rosemary, a personal series of rapport that I think will continue to allow us to make that case.”

The Daily Caller News Foundation reports the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is preparing to beef up its immigration enforcement capabilities by hiring more staff, adding more vehicles and creating more processing facilities, in the chance that there is an immigration surge sparked by Trump’s presidential election victory. The moves are a change in direction from Trudeau’s public declaration in January 2017 that Canada was a “welcoming” country and that “diversity is our strength” just days after Trump was sworn into office the first time.

The Daily Caller notes the differences in response from the Canadian government verses Mexico’s:

Trudeau’s recent overtures largely differ from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has indicated she is not willing to bend the knee to Trump’s tariff threats. The Mexican leader in November said “there will be a response in kind” to any tariff levied on Mexican goods going into the U.S., and she appeared to deny the president-elect’s claims that she agreed to do more to beef up border security in a recent phone call.