Republicans in the US Senate elected a new leader against Trump’s wishes

John Thune, a senator from South Dakota, was elected as the leader of the Republican Party faction in the US Senate. He received the most votes during the secret ballot, which also included the representative of Florida Rick Scott – a politician supported by Donald Trump’s inner circle, reports UNN with reference to the BBC.

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Previously, the leader of the Republicans in the Senate was Mitch McConnell – he held this position for the past 17 years.

According to the media, Scott’s candidacy was supported by the richest man in the world, the owner of the Tesla and Space X companies, Elon Musk, who works closely with Trump and will receive a position in his administration. Scott is considered a less traditional politician and a more flamboyant representative of the Trump wing of the Republican Party.

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However, the senators preferred their familiar Senator Thune, who during the previous four years was the second most influential Republican in the Senate (after McConnell).

The publication adds that formally Trump does not interfere in the election of the Republican leader in the Senate, but members of his entourage tried to influence them. Therefore, Tun’s election can be seen as a demonstration of some independence of the senators from the future owner of the White House.