With Republican control of Congress, an incoming administration of MAGA loyalists and a friendly judiciary he helped shape, the only instant vetting mechanism Donald Trump His power will likely have to come from within his party. But Trump demands loyalty from Republicans. The new party also bends to his wishes—and that shows little willingness to stand up to him even before he sends them a red wave in this month’s election—Actually Are you going to challenge him now?
Perhaps, according to the next Senate majority leader. “Every president is going to come in and try to do as much as they can by executive action,” John Thune speak Tuesday. “Congress, in some cases, will be the entity that will have to pump the brakes at times.”
Comments from Thune, who will succeed Mitch McConnell As Republican leader, there seemed to be assurance that the Senate would seek to maintain the power of Congress as a co-equal branch of government, not simply serve as like a rubber stamp for Trump. But, of course, his predecessor rarely played a role in restraining Trump’s power—despite considering him “despicable” and “stupid.”—and it’s unclear how else Thune, a McConnell ally, will approach the president-elect.
McConnell has largely been an enabler, occasionally rebuffing Trump with rhetoric but never doing so in a meaningful way that might harm his long-term political goals—especially is the right-wing bias of the Supreme Court. Thune’s term hasn’t begun yet, but his convention appears to have canceled one of Trump’s appointments with Matt GaetzThe now-disgraced former Florida congressman the president-elect initially chose to be his attorney general. That suggests Thune’s Senate Republicans may be interested in bringing it up some railing in place.
But where exactly will those railings be? Will they simply make it more difficult for an accused sex trafficker to become the nation’s top law enforcement official? Or will they hinder Trump’s other whims and malign ideas?
Thune wasn’t the first choice for some in the MAGA world. Some, including top advisors Elon Musk and Trump’s choice for secretary of state, Marco Rubiohave supported Rick Scott—Florida state senator, who seems more prepared to accept Trump’s request so you can skip Capitol Hill and make an appointment during your break.
Thune hasn’t exactly closed down on that request yet. But at least he seems interested in maintaining his ability to exercise power as a senator. That doesn’t earn him any respect. But it could make him a logical target for Democrats seeking to halt or slow Trump’s worst impulses — and potentially put him on a collision course with Trump himself.
Of course, this is not about policy. “The things we want to accomplish now are generally the same,” Thune told the Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. “How we get there is another matter and we will have to deal with that.” With Democrats in disarray and Republicans eager to act on what they see as a mandate, any friction within Trump’s party could be a good hope. to limit him — for now.
