Incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune has cast doubt on Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans.
In an interview with NBC’s Meet The Press, Thune was asked by host Kristen Walker about previous comments he had previously made about how “realistic” it was to deport every illegal alien residing in the United States.
“Is it realistic to deport everybody? I mean, there’s a lot of people in this country who are here illegally,” Thune said.
“Anybody who has committed a crime in this country clearly out to be on that list.
“And there are a bunch of folks, over a million, 1.4 million I think, on the current administration’s list of people that need to be deported.”
“So start with that, and then we’ll go from there and figure it out. But I think that the administration when they take office, these are decisions, obviously, they’re going to have to make.”
“People have to understand that we are a nation of immigrants, but we are first and foremost a nation of laws, and you’ve got to follow the law,” he said.
John Thune on Trump’s vow to deport all undocumented immigrants: “Is it realistic to deport everybody? I mean, there’s a lot of people in this country who are here illegally.” pic.twitter.com/QeIh6IqhFm
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 5, 2025
During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to carry out the “largest deportation effort in American history” and end the chaos at the southern border that has undermined life in the U.S. under the Biden regime.
Thune, meanwhile, was elected as Senate Majority Leader back in November following Trump’s landslide election victory, defeating fellow Senators Rick Scott and John Cornyn in the process.
While some argue he is preferable to the former Republican leader Mitch McConnell, Thune has a well-documented record of supporting foreign wars and opposing Trump’s influence in the Republican Party.
Following his election, Thune said he had spoken with Trump and was “excited to get to work implementing [his] agenda on behalf of the American people.
Just got off the phone with @realDonaldTrump. Senate Republicans are excited and ready to get to work implementing President Trump’s agenda on behalf of the American people.
— Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) November 13, 2024
Thune formally took office on Friday, bringing Mitch McConnell’s 18-year stint at the helm to a satisfying end.
