Trump again calls for Noem to primary Thune despite her refusal

President Trump on Friday repeated his call for South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) to primary Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.), despite her refusal last week.

Trump took to Twitter to promote Noem and criticize Thune as a “RINO,” or Republican in name only, after the senator dismissed Trump’s efforts to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s election win. 

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

Noem said last week that she is not interested in challenging Thune in the Republican primary.

“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,” she 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

Noem has been a staunch ally to the president and is considered a potential contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Trump has lashed out at Thune in recent weeks after the South Dakota senator said that the president’s and House Republicans’ push to contest the Electoral College’s certified vote next Wednesday will “go down like a shot dog.”

The president slammed Thune in a tweet last week, saying, “He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!”

Thune has publicly and privately spoken out against the effort being led by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), arguing it was “not going anywhere” in the Senate. Since his comments, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has said he will challenge the Electoral College vote, meaning a debate will be forced in Congress. 

Republican Senate leadership has been encouraging its members not to participate in the Electoral College challenge.