Western South Dakota News

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune recently appeared on America's Newsroom on Fox News and Inside Politics on CNN to discuss several pressing issues.

On the topic of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, Thune expressed disappointment over the lack of Democratic support, stating, "[W]e didn’t get a single Democrat [vote]. It got 51 votes on the floor of the Senate. It got every Republican who was there and voting." He emphasized that this issue is "intuitively obvious" to Americans, arguing that biological boys should not compete in girls' sports. Thune criticized Democrats for being "out of step with the American people."

Thune also discussed tariffs, particularly in relation to agriculture in South Dakota. He explained, "[B]eing from South Dakota, and agriculture being our number one industry," he sees tariffs differently. Thune noted that President Biden aims to use tariffs strategically to address issues like fentanyl trafficking from Canada and Mexico. He described tariffs as "a means to an end" rather than a permanent solution.

Regarding changes under Republican control of the Senate, Thune remarked, "The last four years under the Democrats, it was just kind of, in my view, chaotic." He stressed the importance of empowering individual senators to represent their states effectively.

Thune also addressed U.S.-Ukraine relations and recent negotiations concerning minerals. He noted that Ukrainian President Zelensky's recent visit was marked by a "defiant mood," which hindered progress toward a deal. However, Thune remains optimistic about reaching an agreement eventually. He highlighted the administration's commitment to governing with a policy focused on peace through strength.

Finally, Thune underscored the significance of supporting Ukraine against Russia's alliances with countries like North Korea and China. He stated it is crucial for U.S. national security interests that Ukraine achieves a peaceful resolution.