The next is the overall transcript of an interview with Senate Majority Chief John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, on “Face the Country with Margaret Brennan” that aired on Jan. 5, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Thanks for making time for us—
SEN. JOHN THUNE: Nice to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: —on a large day for you.
SEN. THUNE: Thank you, Margaret, proper.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So let’s get started giant image. Republicans have unified regulate right here in Washington, however the Area Republicans have a beautiful fractured caucus, a beautiful slender majority. How do you spot that complicating the paintings you are able to get finished over right here within the Senate?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, we need- clearly, as you stated, to get anything else finished, we need to paintings as a workforce. And we’ve got unified regulate. Now we have the majorities within the Area, the Senate, the White Area, however the majority within the Home is extremely slender, which creates some distinctive control demanding situations. However they have labored round them, and we will be able to paintings round them and paintings with the Trump management, the President and his workforce, on an time table that he campaigned on, and that a lot of our colleagues right here within the Senate and the Area campaigned on, and so we are fascinated about the chance. Sure, it’s- those are odd cases with appreciate to the margins, specifically in the home, however we predict to ship on what the American other folks requested us to do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Do you assume that’ll hamstring you with regards to giant coverage adjustments that it is advisable legislate round?
SEN. THUNE: I feel it’s- it’s- it is all the time difficult, and particularly in the- on this present political atmosphere, you recognize, other folks have sturdy perspectives, and as you could be expecting, and feature observed, we do not all the time agree amongst Republicans, inside the circle of relatives. However I feel—
MARGARET BRENNAN: Specifically amongst Republicans.
SEN. THUNE: —however what I- however I feel in relation to the massive problems, securing the border, rebuilding the army, strengthening the financial system, you recognize, producing power dominance for this nation, the ones are all issues on which we agree. And so I feel as we continue ahead, you recognize, with appreciate to even slender margins, I feel we are going to have a- confidently an overly unified effort in relation to the ones core problems. We will disagree at the margins and the method and all that kind of factor, however in relation to the issues we want to get finished for the American other folks, that we expect transfer the rustic in the suitable route, the ones are all issues I feel we agree on.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How steadily do you discuss to the president elect?
SEN. THUNE: , quite often. We now have stayed in lovely excellent conversation and make contact with, each prematurely of the election after which next to it, and particularly now as we begin charting the trail ahead with- with the time table, clearly getting session from him, from his workforce. We are operating intently together with his workforce now as we begin to take regulate of the Senate now, within the Area these days, and confidently within the subsequent couple of weeks earlier than he is taking the oath of place of business, we’re going to have issues arrange for him, together with the chance to verify numerous his nominees.
MARGARET BRENNAN: How, or what function do you spot JD Vance, Senator, soon-to-be Vice President-elect. Is he going to be the fellow kind of translating between the politics of the conceivable at the Hill and what the Trump time table is?
SEN. THUNE: I feel JD is already appearing that function, and I feel will proceed to. I feel, clearly, he has the President’s ear. He is broadly revered via his colleagues right here within the Senate and within the Area, I’d upload. And I feel he’ll be someone who can lend a hand the management, as they paintings thru those problems, determine what is real looking, what is achievable, what we will accomplish right here within the Senate, as a result of he is been right here. He is aware of it is difficult—
(CROSSTALK BEGINS)
MARGARET BRENNAN: Two years.
SEN. THUNE: —within the Senate- I do know, it is a brief period of time—
MARGARET BRENNAN: Simply two years.
(END CROSSTALK)
SEN. THUNE: —however he is a surprisingly proficient particular person, as you recognize, highly intelligent and a snappy find out about. And I feel there- if there is any one who has been ready to acclimate and perceive the, kind of the original facets of ways the Senate operates in a brief period of time, it is him. However he is the President of the Senate, and I’d be expecting that he’s going to proceed to be any person that acts as a, you recognize, kind of an middleman with the- with the White Area and the Senate and the Area in seeking to put into effect the President’s time table.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have had disagreements with Donald Trump previously, as a part of this Advise and Consent function, the function of the Senate. Will you inform him whilst you assume he is incorrect?
SEN. THUNE: I will be able to, and I feel my activity is to do the entirety I will be able to to lend a hand him succeed in good fortune, be a a hit president, which, individually, implies that we’re going to be a a hit nation. The issues that he mentioned at the marketing campaign path, the issues that the American other folks voted for, are all issues that I feel this President desires to get finished, we wish to get finished, and I say that our incentives are aligned. Now we have the similar set of goals. We wish to get to the similar vacation spot, however I feel every now and then, there will probably be variations in how we get there. And I feel I’ve to spell out as obviously as I will be able to to any one who asks, what the demanding situations are within the Senate. The Senate is an overly other establishment. Obviously purposes other than the Area of Representatives. And figuring out the original facets of ways the Senate operates is one thing that I will have in an effort to proportion and produce to the President and lend a hand him perceive, I feel, what the- you recognize, what the contours are, what we will accomplish right here within the Senate, and what is real looking
MARGARET BRENNAN: You might have a 53 seat majority over right here, which means that you’ll be able to best lose 3 votes if Democrats stay unified of their opposition to a few of Mr. Trump’s alternatives for his cupboard. Do you are expecting all of them to make it thru? And if this is the case, how temporarily?
SEN. THUNE: I feel, what I have promised is an excellent procedure for they all, and we’re going to make certain that they get a affirmation listening to, a possibility to make their case, solution the arduous questions that inevitably are going to return, and carry out the function that the Senate has with regards to recommendation and consent. However I additionally consider that the President deserves- I defer to the President. I am very- in relation to his alternatives, and I’d say this of any president, they deserve numerous latitude. And I feel that, you recognize, his alternatives are going to return thru a procedure the place, in the event that they get reported out of the committee, come around the ground of the Senate, we’re going to make certain that they get the- the vote. And I feel that- I believe numerous them gets thru. And- and we’re going to see about they all. Continues to be observed, however I feel that is why we’ve got the method, and we will be able to adhere to that procedure and provides all of those nominees a possibility to make their case.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You have stated it’s important to see if Democrats play ball or no longer, however you don’t want Democrats to get those thru. So does that imply a few of your Republican senators would possibly not vote to verify Kash Patel on the FBI or Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon?
SEN. THUNE: We would not have, at this level, I do not believe, readability on that. I feel those are nominees who’re new sufficient, they have been going round and accomplishing their conferences, which I feel, frankly, have long gone rather well, however they nonetheless must make their case in entrance of the committee. And, you recognize, we do not know all of the details about a few of these nominees. I feel we all know so much about them, however they deserve an excellent procedure, and that is what we have dedicated to and promised and- and I be expecting to ship on. And in the long run, whether they get thru that procedure is- goes to be as much as each and every particular person senator and the way they come to a decision to vote. Now we have a 3 vote margin within the Senate, as you indicate. However I do assume that typically, no less than, maximum of our Republican senators are vulnerable to offer the President the folk that he desires in those positions, given, you recognize, the method that they undergo and whether or not or no longer they are able to set up the committee procedure and make certain that they get to the ground for vote.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Does that come with FBI background assessments? I do know steadily the rating individuals get them on armed services and products, for instance, however a few of your colleagues, they wish to see Pete Hegseth’s FBI background test earlier than they vote.
SEN. THUNE: Proper, and I feel that is going to be decided in large part via the committee chairs. I feel there will probably be an hobby, clearly–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –would you inspire them?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, positive. I imply, I feel that you need to have as a lot background as conceivable this is to be had to the committees as they make their selections. However I’ve numerous self assurance in our committee chairs. Probably the most issues that I have made a focal point of, no less than my management right here, is to get the committees functioning once more, in some way, making sure that the committee chairs and particular person individuals of the committee have a possibility to verify their voices are heard within the procedure and that we benefit from the skill that we have got on the ones particular person committees. So I’ve a prime degree of self assurance in our chairs that they are going to make certain that as individuals of the committee, and of the overall Senate, have a possibility to imagine those nominees that they have were given the entire data to be had to them that they will have to have.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Certainly one of your colleagues informed me you’re a “depend the votes man.” You are no longer a “twist the arm man.” Do you assume that is truthful?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, I feel that, you recognize, on occasion it relies just a little bit on what your function is. The activity that I’ve held now for the closing six years, the whip activity, differs in case you are within the minority or within the majority. In case you are within the majority, you wish to have to get the votes. You are within the minority, you need to understand the place your vote depend is, and you are enjoying protection versus enjoying offense. They are very other roles. However I do know, I consider how to- I perceive my individuals have labored with them serious about a in reality very long time, and I feel whether or not it is in truth counting, and I feel we are very correct in relation to counting. I take nice satisfaction in that, and the team- the paintings the workforce has finished the closing six years. But in addition it’s a must to get the votes, and I consider when essential, we understand how to do this, and I have had to do this within the function that I’ve now.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Joe Manchin, a now former senator, informed us lately on “Face the Country”, that if you- his dad informed him, “if you’ll be able to say no with a tear on your eye, you are all excellent.” Do you consider him on that?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, I feel that, you recognize I- what I have all the time stated is, and as a whip, each and every member’s vote is their vote. You finally cannot power someone to vote, you recognize, how they- towards what their- their needs are, what their constituents need them to do. So their vote is their vote. What I have all the time requested is they no longer wonder us, and that if they provide you- let you know one thing, that that is that that is their phrase and and you are expecting them to stick to that. And that is the reason roughly all the time the best way that I proceeded. And I feel there are occasions during which particular person senators, for state causes, and the constituents that they constitute might come to another conclusion, and that is their proper. That is their prerogative. And that is the reason why my taste, as I described, is clearly, it is persuasion. It is seeking to get them to a spot the place, if conceivable, they are able to enhance the workforce. However I perceive there are cases during which they will must replicate the perspectives the folk that elected them, and that’s- that is what this activity in the long run, is ready.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Recess appointments. Bypassing the Senate solely. Would you ask Mr. Trump no longer to do this?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, this is the article, and also you requested previous about cooperation from the Democrats. I do not believe the Democrats are going to offer us any votes. I imply, I am hoping they do. And I feel they’ll on some- some nominees. I imply, I have were given sufficient comments, readouts, I feel, from a few of these conferences, and I feel that the a few of our the President’s nominees, will win Democrat votes, however via and big, their management–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Senator Rubio, for instance–
SEN. THUNE: –Positive, yeah. I imply–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –However Tulsi Gabbard?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, however I imply–
MARGARET BRENNAN: –Pete Hegseth, Kash Patel.
SEN. THUNE: We will see there is a complete bunch of- of nominees, a few of whom may have extra Democrat enhance than others. However I feel finally, the Democrat management, typically, will not be going to be in large part supportive of one of the crucial President’s alternatives, with perhaps a couple of exceptions. However what is extra vital to me isn’t how they in the long run vote. You are proper. You pointed this out. Now we have a majority. If we get 51 votes, Republican votes, we will win these types of nominees, however it is how a lot they drag that procedure out. And I identified to those who whenever you return to President Obama, he had his first 12 Cupboard nominees in 15 days. It took President Trump 42 days and President Biden 50 days. So we are shifting within the incorrect route in relation to giving a President the chance to get their other folks in position as temporarily as conceivable. And so what I have stated is we are going to stay, you recognize, the choices at our disposal to make certain that we’re shifting in some way in line with the best way the Senate purposes and works that will get those people a possibility to be voted on within the Senate.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you about what you wish to have to get finished coverage smart as smartly, with regards to offering the president the investment to execute on a few of his giant objectives.
SEN. THUNE: Proper
MARGARET BRENNAN: You stated you will move out of the gate with a generation- “a generational funding in border safety and immigration enforcement.” You are going to cross it on 51 birthday party line votes. If you wish to govern thru common order, why undergo this in a birthday party line route?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, it is a type of problems that has develop into extremely divisive for the rustic, and there don’t seem to be very many of us left within the heart. Reconciliation permits us. It does not come alongside very steadily the place you could have unified regulate of the federal government. In numerous instances, it does not closing very lengthy. It is a few years. The Democrats equipped a template within the closing couple of years for easy methods to extend the scope of what is to be had to get finished in the course of the reconciliation procedure. It is the best procedure within the Senate that allows you to enact law with a 51 vote threshold, versus 60.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SEN. THUNE: And so immigration, the border–
MARGARET BRENNAN: However, it is out of the gate announcing, we aren’t going to paintings with Democrats.
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, I am not announcing what- they got here out of the gate. They’d their first reconciliation invoice finished in 4 weeks approaching it once they were given the bulk.
MARGARET BRENNAN: $2 trillion–
SEN. THUNE: Smartly,
MARGARET BRENNAN: –with the COVID invoice and also you did not adore it.
SEN. THUNE: $2 trillion–
[crosstalk]
MARGARET BRENNAN: –you faulted them for the use of reconciliation–
SEN. THUNE: 11:01:11 – and another- one other trillion with the IRA.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Precisely.
SEN. THUNE: It will be very best if shall we determine a strategy to do issues on the 60 vote threshold and there are a variety of items we will be able to. I imply, there are a variety of problems the place we are going to must get 60 votes. We need to get 60 votes on appropriation expenses. We need to get 60 votes on 60 votes on a farm invoice, which is expired. The ones are going to be bipartisan tasks, however there are a few things that you’ll be able to do. And the Democrats, once more, created the template for doing this with how they did the IRA and the American Rescue Plan for performing some issues at 51 and we expect {that a} generational funding within the border is essential, given the place we’re after the closing 4 years of a what I feel is an overly failed Biden Harris border coverage. And I feel there is not any one who objectively would not consider that. 10 and a part million other folks coming around the border illegally, together with numerous very unsavory people, individuals of terrorist organizations and felony parts and cartels, and many others.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you learnt they are individuals of terrorist organizations? Right here on U.S. soil?
SEN. THUNE: Positive. Yeah. Smartly, I am announcing they have been apprehended there. We all know that there are nearly 300 which were apprehended which might be at the terrorist watch checklist.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Proper.
SEN. THUNE: And I feel if they have apprehended that many, I believe numerous them have got thru.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There are 1.4 million other folks right here with deportation orders, orders of removing towards them. I have observed numbers that put the price of expelling them at between $80 to $100 billion yearly. Are you able to get that roughly cash within the first 100 days?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, I feel that what we are seeking to do is get an overview from the people who find themselves going to be in position. They’ll be enforcing numerous the President’s insurance policies in relation to the border resolve what that- that useful resource allocation goes to want.
MARGARET BRENNAN: They do not know but.
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, I feel that what we do know is we’d like bodily obstacles. We’d like technological obstacles. We’d like extra ICE brokers. We’d like extra Border Patrol brokers. And sure, we are going to want techniques of deporting other folks which might be on that- on that checklist that you just discussed. And so it will take some assets to do this, which is why I’d argue that after the President takes place of business and he will do numerous issues at the border via govt order, via govt motion, that we are going to want in an effort to give you the assets to ensure that him to do this. And that is the reason why I have advised that we take that border factor on instantly and permit him to do the issues that- that he must do.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Is it true you will put some protection spending in that as smartly?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, I feel one of the crucial issues that we all the time argue about round here’s the amount of cash that we want to spend on protection. And obviously that is a matter the place whenever you take a look at each and every Biden management price range, there wasn’t a unmarried considered one of them when it got here to army spending that got here up- stored up even with inflation. So we’ve got an army readiness on this nation. , we’ve got the protection technique or fee, protection fee technique crew that comes out with file at all times and tells us we’re dramatically underfunded relative to nations like China–
MARGARET BRENNAN: The ones will have to be bipartisan problems, proper?
SEN. THUNE: And that we would not have the capability smartly, and we would not have the capability and the aptitude to do what must be finished to give protection to the rustic. So, I- my argument could be, and sure, the ones will have to be bipartisan, however there- it is rather tricky, in my revel in round right here, there is a giant distinction in Delta, within the two events and the way they method the problem of protection and, you recognize, and army readiness. And I feel we’re dramatically underfunding our army these days. I feel the President believes that, President Trump, and I feel numerous our Republican colleagues within the Area, the Senate, proportion that view. So are we able to do that thru reconciliation? We are clearly taking a look at our choices.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to be sure that I ask you concerning the different giant promise you made with regards to handing over on tax reform and reconciliation. The estimates are it would upload $4 trillion over the following decade. Is that in reality one thing you assume goes to cross on a birthday party line vote and with none income or spending cuts? You’ll be able to’t be comfy.
SEN. THIUNE:
Smartly- there- there are- its present coverage. So it’s- it’s those are- those are tax regulations that can expire on the finish of this yr if Congress does not take motion to increase them, and it could constitute a $4 trillion tax build up at the American other folks if we do not lengthen that coverage. We are going to have an overly powerful dialog about tax reform. I used to be a large a part of it again in 2017 once we did the preliminary Trump tax cuts. And this time round, there is a lot driving on it. There is a lot driving on it economically. I feel regulatory coverage, tax coverage, power coverage, are going to be in reality very important to the power of the- our financial system, how briskly we will develop and extend and create higher paying jobs on this nation. So I am a large believer in pro-growth tax coverage. I consider you get numerous that again thru development and further income each and every 1 %–
MARGARET BRENNAN: No longer price lists as Mr. Trump has promised?
SEN. THUNE: Smartly, that’s- that is a special matter, however I’d say each and every 1 % build up in GDP and financial development, we are informed, generates about $3 trillion in more tax income. So you will get some again with regards to a development dividend, and there will probably be spending cuts. There is no query about it. Our individuals in each the Area and the Senate wish to make certain that once we do tax reform thru reconciliation, that it additionally comprises vital discounts in spending, specifically in positive spaces. And I feel that is one thing that as we paintings thru this, we’re going to determine some way to do that in some way that confidently evokes 51 votes within the Senate and 218 within the Area to get this around the end line.
MARGARET BRENNAN: However going out of the gate with two giant problems on birthday party line votes – don’t seem to be you involved that can blow up your probabilities at operating with Democrats on a few of the ones larger immigration problems or larger insurance policies?
SEN. JOHN THUNE: Smartly, I feel we- we want to proceed to paintings on the ones giant coverage problems, however I additionally assume we’ve got some rapid issues – issues that want to be addressed – considered one of which is nationwide safety, given the increasingly more bad international during which we are living. And naturally, I’d argue that begins with the border. So border, nationwide safety. I feel power coverage, power dominance is a large function and objective, and I’d hope {that a} reconciliation invoice may additionally cope with that factor. If we do one thing on taxes, that historically has been- previously, the Democrats did it two times whilst that they had the bulk within the closing consultation of the Congress, they did two giant reconciliation expenses, either one of which did numerous tax coverage, spending coverage, and many others.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Trump did that during 2017 too, with taxes.
SEN JOHN THUNE: And that is the reason – and either side have finished it. And that is the reason- that is the distinctive facet of getting unified regulate of the federal government. You’ll be able to do issues within the Senate at 51 votes. However I feel the ones are all vital, and they’re issues that, as a rustic, if we do not get proper, I concern what the effects and the end result will probably be. You’ll be able to’t have a $4 trillion build up in taxes at the American other folks on the finish of this yr if Congress does not act. I feel that could be a very compelling, you recognize, tough incentive for individuals of Congress to return in combination and paintings constructively in a unified approach as a workforce to get a few of these issues finished. And sure, it would be very best if it is advisable do it bipartisan. I am hoping that there are some Democrats who would vote for one of the crucial tax insurance policies that we have got, however I am not- I am not anticipating that these days.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Chief, it’s glorious to be right here with you and to have the time, and I am hoping we will have extra conversations someday.
SEN. JOHN THUNE: Sounds excellent. Thank you Margaret.
MARGARET BRENNAN: There may be much more to hide.
SEN. JOHN THUNE: Nice to be with you. Thanks. Glad New Yr.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Glad New Yr to you.
