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By Anna Commander and Alex J. Rouhandeh
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President Donald Trump defended Senate Majority Leader John Thune after attendees at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas booed the South Dakota Republican when Trump mentioned his name during his remarks Wednesday night. Video from the event showed the crowd reacting negatively as Trump referenced Thune.
Newsweek National Political Correspondent Alex Rouhandeh, who is in attendance, highlighted that at the mention of Thune’s name, the convention hall erupted in boos, reverberating across the various state delegations. The boos were so loud, it was hard to tell whether Thune’s native South Dakota had cheered for him. Eventually, following Trump’s defense, the booing died down.
Midterm elections are commonly viewed as a test of the political environment facing the party in power, and the president's party has historically lost seats during midterm elections. Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House and Senate.
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Amid the wave of boos, Trump said, "No, no, John is working hard. He's got great opposition... from the Democrat Schumer and these guys, they're terrible. He's got great opposition; he's working very hard. He's going to have great success; you watch."
"By the way, we've got great Republican Senators," Trump later added.
Newsweek reached out to Thune's office via email on Wednesday night for additional information.
What To Know
Trump has at times publicly pressured Thune over his handling of the Senate, particularly over the president's push for the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and identification at the ballot box. Trump earlier this summer urged Thune to keep the Senate in session until Republicans can pass the legislation, while Thune has said Republicans do not currently have enough votes to advance it.
The reaction from the convention crowd highlights the pressure Thune faces from Trump's most loyal supporters as he attempts to lead the Senate Republican Conference. Thune has generally worked with the White House on Trump's agenda, but his approach to the Senate has occasionally put him at odds with members of the party's conservative wing.
The episode also underscores Trump's central role at the first-ever Republican midterm convention, where the president has sought to make the 2026 elections a referendum on his administration despite not appearing on the ballot. The two-day Dallas event has been heavily focused on Trump as the GOP works to energize its base ahead of November's midterm elections.
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Midterm Race For the Senate
With control of the Senate up for grabs in November, the GOP is facing a series of competitive races that could determine the balance of power in the chamber. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, but Democrats need to gain four seats to take control. Several contests—including races in Georgia, Michigan, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Ohio and Texas—are drawing national attention, with both parties investing heavily in the most competitive contests.
Nate Silver's latest forecast also underscores the stakes for Republicans, with his model putting the party's chances of losing its Senate majority at a level that makes control of the chamber a genuine toss-up heading into November.
The Cook Political Report rates the following Senate races as toss-ups: Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas.
In a Federal Election Commission filing on Saturday, MAGA Inc. revealed in an independent expenditure report that it has spent $10 million in the Texas Senate race. Similarly, billionaire Elon Musk’s America PAC has begun spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in key House and Senate races.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gray R. Thomas
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