President Donald Trump said he hopes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will run against U.S. Sen. John Thune in the 2022 Republican primary.
Sen. Thune has been a critic of Trump’s efforts to contest the election results. Thune told reporters last month that a challenge to the Electoral College certification in the Senate “would go down like a shot dog,” according to The Hill.
“I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota Kristi Noem, run against RINO Sen. John Thune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up. South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!” Trump wrote in one of his first tweets of the new year.
I hope to see the great Governor of South Dakota @KristiNoem, run against RINO @SenJohnThune, in the upcoming 2022 Primary. She would do a fantastic job in the U.S. Senate, but if not Kristi, others are already lining up. South Dakota wants strong leadership, NOW!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 1, 2021
When asked for comment, Gov. Noem’s communications director pointed Alpha News to the governor’s earlier tweet saying she would not run against Thune.
“John Thune is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him. I’m honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022,” Noem tweeted.
.@johnthune is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him. I’m honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) December 23, 2020
This is not the first time the president has called out Sen. Thune.
“Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget. Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election. RINO John Thune, ‘Mitch’s boy,’ should just let it play out. South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!” Trump tweeted shortly before Christmas.
Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget. Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election. RINO John Thune, “Mitch’s boy”, should just let it play out. South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 23, 2020