Outgoing president Donald Trump is spending his last few days in the office taking jabs at leaderships within his own party. As part of this ongoing attempt, the president recently attacked the number 2 Senate Republican, giving a glimpse of what looks like his post-presidential strategy to use his position in the 2022 midterm elections.
Trump returned to the White House early from his vacation in Mar-a-Lago, delivering a year-end video message and talked boastingly about how his administration worked to rapidly develop a vaccine to restrict the coronavirus's spread build America's economy back, Associated Press reported. Upon his return, the president attacked South Dakotan Senator John Thune, who is the No. 2 Senate Republican, in a tweet.
In his tweet, Trump said he would like to see the Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem go up against U.S. Senator John Thune in the impending 2022 Primary. Noting that South Dakota needs strong leadership, Trump said Noem would do a great job in the U.S. Senate, but if not her, others are lining up.
Trump slammed Republican leadership multiple times this week, but this time he went as far as naming names. Some Republicans, including Thune, have spoken in favor of accepting the Electoral College results and the fact that Trump lost the presidential election, drawing the president's ire.
Before the formal electoral college voting process started, Thune noted that he understands that when somebody gets 270, they are ruling, adding that at some point, they have to accept responsibility for what you've done. He went on to suggest that everybody should move on once the Electoral College settles the issue, CNN reported.
Trump's tweet comes just a few days before he leaves office and ahead of a joint session of Congress, which will certify the Electoral College results. Meanwhile, some Trump allies are still planning to join his baseless effort to change the election results.
The president returned to the White House ahead of the Jan. 6event, wherein nearly 140 House Republicans, along with at least one senator, Republican Josh Hawley, are expected to vote to throw out electoral votes in Pennslyvania, possibly other swing states Trump lost. As expected, Trump lauded Hawley in a tweet earlier this week.
On Friday, Hawley told reporters that he hasn't decided how many states' Electoral College results that he will be objecting to. He admitted to them that he hasn't come up with a mechanism yet.