Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) clearly does not like the title “Senate Majority Leader.” How else can you explain his consistency in driving his Senate majority advantage into the ground?
Our Catherine Salgado details Thune’s latest non-accomplishment when he squandered the Republicans’ unified stand against fake Democrat outrage over U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and TSA funding:
Senate Republicans finally reached a deal with Democrats and rammed through funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), except for immigration enforcement. Senators then left town so they could not vote on the crucial SAVE America Act. And Republican leadership in the House of Representatives is fuming.
Democrats insisted on not including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol (BP) in the funding deal, and Senate Republicans agreed. Now, frontline ICE and BP are funded separately through President Donald Trump‘s term, though civilian Customs and Border Protection staff that supports the frontline agents are not. Civilian support staff for border agents are not funded through the separate funding and will therefore go without paychecks. But the whole manner and circumstances of the vote, from using voice vote instead of roll call (hiding who voted for what) to doing it at 3 a.m. to rushing out of town afterwards and avoiding the critical issue of the SAVE Act, was underhanded and cowardly, not to mention Democrats can now brag to their voters that Republicans caved.
Talk about snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Thune carries on the in the Republican tradition of being graceful losers. So, how are actual conservatives reacting? As you might expect. Let’s check in on the House.
Rep. Roy: "It is absolutely offensive to the people that we represent that the Senate would send over a bill that doesn't fund Border Patrol and the core components of ICE.
— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) March 27, 2026
Could the Senate be any more lazy than to send to us a bill that doesn't do the job and then leave town?… pic.twitter.com/LHf7KACbTq
X user “WallStreetMav” points out that Thune likes to disagree with himself on matters of policy.
WATCH: The moment Thune passed the DHS funding bill by unilaterally ending debate without cloture (60 votes).
— Wall Street Mav (@WallStreetMav) March 27, 2026
This is the very thing he REFUSES to do with the SAVE America Act because that would be “nuking the filibuster.”
It’s Republicans that are sabotaging the MAGA agenda. pic.twitter.com/Zd8dhEoAS3
This is actor James Woods, whose post speaks for itself.
You had ONE job, you worthless hack. pic.twitter.com/dYeJgC6lim
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) March 27, 2026
The Democrats’ top dog in the Senate is Chuck Schumer (S-N.Y.). After Thune so graciously reached (jumped?) across the aisle to fund TSA without funding border security, you’d expect Schumer to be equally gracious, respectful, and appreciative. If you do, you’d be wrong.
After weeks of negotiations, Republicans caved to our demands to fund DHS without a blank check for ICE and CBP.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 27, 2026
My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/KGvgL7VcqL
Schumer made sure to point out that Thune “caved,” that he lost, and that he gave in to the stronger party, the Democrats, even though they are the minority party in the Senate.
The Democrats aren’t thanking Thune. They’re mocking him and belittling him, and treating him no differently than if he stuck to his guns, which he did not.
BREAKING: In a stunning moment, Republican Randy Fine just exposed Republican Senate Leader John Thune for getting an escort to skip through lines at the airport. Thune and Fine are both responsible for TSA not being funded and the rest of America having long security lines. Wow. pic.twitter.com/jvmi18fK3g
— Democratic Wins Media (@DemocraticWins) March 27, 2026
If you know the Democrats will treat you like this when you work with them, what is the point of working with them?
Why are the Republicans doing everything they can to lose the midterms? This is beyond incompetence. This has to be willful.
🚨 DISGRACEFUL: Senate RINOs just LEFT TOWN
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 27, 2026
They rushed through a bill funding TSA and most of DHS, but deliberately left ICE and CBP unfunded.
No SAVE America Act. No proof of citizenship. No backbone.pic.twitter.com/HYGoYVytLJ
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