John Thune's all-star cabinet is unveiled as Republicans gain Senate majority.

John Thune, the new Senate Majority Leader, has appointed four key Republican allies to his unofficial cabinet.

The new Republican leader has appointed Sens. Marsha Blackburn, Steve Daines, Markwayne Mullin, and John Cornyn to his advisory team and to attend crucial leadership meetings.

McConnell was accompanied by a group of senators he personally selected for meetings, which at times included Sens. Tom Cotton, Katie Britt, Thom Tillis, Roger Wicker, and Deb Fischer.

Elected leaders in the conference, including Senate President Pro-Tempore Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Senate Republican Conference Chairman Cotton, Senate Republican Policy Committee Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., Republican Conference Vice Chair James Lankford, R-Okla., and National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., regularly attend weekly leadership meetings.

Thune's new informal team has a diverse range of styles and priorities.

Marsha Blackburn

As a Tennessee Republican with ties to President-elect Trump and his sphere of influence, Blackburn can help keep the leadership team plugged in to the "Make America Great Again" movement.

Blackburn has aligned with conservative Republicans such as Sens. Rick Scott and Mike Lee, who clashed with McConnell, in an attempt to bridge any gaps between them.

Blackburn stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that her role as Leader Thune's assistant would involve advancing the President's nominees and promoting the President's agenda in the Senate to "Make America Great Again."

Steve Daines

As the former chairman of the NRSC, Daines helped elect a Republican Senate majority and has a strong relationship with Trump. He will bring this relationship and his team to the White House. Additionally, Daines sits on the finance committee, which will play a crucial role in the tax debate that Trump has prioritized. Republicans plan to extend key provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which are set to expire this year. Daines will serve as a key mediator between the committee and leadership as they work to achieve Trump's agenda.

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), the Montana Republican has valuable insights into the intersection of policy and politics, as Trump and the GOP aim to achieve their goals in the first 100 days of the administration, including addressing several global issues.

Daines stated in a Planet Chronicle Digital interview that Senate Republicans are prepared to implement President Trump's agenda, which includes securing the border, lowering taxes, ensuring public safety, reducing costs, providing affordable gas, ending wasteful spending, and enhancing national security. He expressed excitement about collaborating with Leader Thune and other colleagues to achieve these objectives for the benefit of the American people.

Markwayne Mullin

Mullin has been a valuable asset to his colleagues as a crucial intermediary between Trump, the House of Representatives, and the Senate. He was the first senator to publicly endorse Thune for the leadership position, and he previously served as part of his deputy whip team. Mullin's strong relationship with Trump is expected to help facilitate communication between the chamber and the incoming president. Notably, Mullin was one of Trump's 2024 campaign surrogates, traveling with both the president-elect and Vice President-elect JD Vance, as well as assisting Republican Senate candidates across the country.

"Senator Thune's leadership table is an honor for Mullin, who is proud to be part of the fight for President Trump's America First agenda. Mullin is grateful for the opportunity to serve and intends to govern with the same spirit as Leader Thune, who always makes the extra pass when someone else is in a better position to take the shot."

John Cornyn

As a 22-year veteran senator and former leadership member, Cornyn brings valuable experience to Thune's leadership team. The Texas senator is a member of the budget committee and is expected to prioritize passing a budget and reducing federal spending. He is also a member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus, which will help facilitate the new advisory board led by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. With Republicans now in control of the Senate, House, and presidency, they have their best chance in years to set spending levels.

In a recent speech, Cornyn highlighted his priorities for this Congress, stating that there is a chance to achieve significant victories for President Trump and the American people through the budget reconciliation process. He emphasized that this is a rare opportunity.

"We must seize this opportunity to tackle our escalating debt," he stated.

Cornyn concluded, "This is an incredible opportunity, but we have a lot of work to do and must not squander it."