Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune appeared on Fox News with Martha MacCallum to discuss several key issues facing the government and the nation. Thune expressed optimism about confirming President Trump's nominees, mentioning that while some have yet to have their hearings, others like Kristi Noem and Pete Hegseth have already appeared before committees.

Thune emphasized his commitment to ensuring these nominees are confirmed swiftly, stating, "I will do everything in my power to ensure that these people get installed in their positions and are able to implement the president’s agenda."

On legislative matters, Thune criticized the Biden-Harris administration's border policies, highlighting the Laken Riley Act as a step towards addressing immigration concerns. He stated, "The Democrats clearly are out of step with the American people...Laken Riley is a perfect example."

Discussing Republicans' broader agenda, Thune noted the unique opportunity presented by unified government control under President Trump. He said, "We have unified control of the government...to do things that we otherwise wouldn’t be able to do."

Thune also addressed potential legislative priorities using budget reconciliation processes for tax legislation and spending cuts. He highlighted goals such as strengthening national security and energy policy.

Regarding government efficiency, Thune expressed support for decentralizing federal power through initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He remarked on reducing bureaucratic red tape: "There’s a huge opportunity here...to streamline it and make it more efficient."

Thune acknowledged public frustration over recent years regarding economic challenges and national security issues. He asserted that Americans desire leadership projecting strength globally.

Finally, he touched upon TikTok's national security implications, suggesting its sale to an American company as a potential solution: "[I]t’s important that we have screens and filters on some of this stuff because these are national security interests."