Senate Majority Leader John Thune described 2025 as a productive year under President Donald Trump's second term, highlighting major legislative achievements. Looking forward, he anticipates a significant debate over Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire soon. Thune advocates for expanding health savings accounts to empower individuals in choosing insurance options.
John Thune assumed the role of Senate Majority Leader in November 2024, succeeding Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. In an interview with The Daily Wire's Tim Rice for the "Morning Wire" podcast, Thune reviewed the past year and outlined upcoming priorities.
The leader called 2025 "very productive," crediting the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which Congress passed and Trump signed into law in July. This sweeping legislation addressed key Republican goals, including national security, border control, energy policy, tax reforms, school choice, newborn accounts, childcare provisions, and a farm bill. Thune described it as featuring "the biggest spending reduction literally in history." Achieving this in one package was a "Herculean task," he noted, as spreading it out over time would have highlighted the volume of accomplishments more clearly. The Senate also confirmed Trump administration nominees and reduced regulatory burdens, particularly in energy.
Despite these successes, Thune flagged a major hurdle for early 2026: the expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies on Wednesday, which could drive up health insurance premiums. The debate echoes a fall 2025 government shutdown centered on Obamacare, with another potential crisis looming if Congress fails to extend funding beyond January 30. Conservatives view the program as fundamentally unsustainable.
Thune outlined preferred reforms, emphasizing consumer choice. "What we do believe makes sense is a model that creates for an expansion of health savings accounts and putting the money back in the pockets of people in this country, incentivizing them to buy the insurance that makes sense for them, rather than buying the insurance the government tells 'em they have to buy," he said. This approach, he argued, would yield lower premiums and better coverage access—elements absent from recent Democratic proposals.
On national security, Thune praised Trump's focus on border security, military strength, and a "peace through strength" doctrine. He referenced the recent antisemitic attack in Bondi Beach, Australia, as a tragic reminder of global threats, stressing the need to equip law enforcement and prosecute perpetrators fully.
