- Late. Barrasso currently serves in the No. 3 GOP Senate leadership slot
- The leadership change comes after McConnell said he would step down in November.
- Senators Thune and Cornyn are running for the No. 1 spot
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Former President Donald Trump is weighing in on the Republican Senate leadership as the race heats up to replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
The former president endorsed Sen. John Barrasso for the number two GOP Senate seat Thursday night.
“John Barrasso is a great senator for the incredible people of Wyoming,” Trump wrote in a social media post.
He is running to be the next Republican Whip for the Senate Republican Conference, a very important job, to make sure we pass and pass strong legislation that puts America first. I know John very well – he will never let you down.’
Trump wrote that Barrasso has his ‘complete and total approval!’
Barrasso currently serves as the No. 3 chairman of the Republican Conference and worked closely with Trump when he was president.
He supported Trump in his bid to return to the White House in January.
Donald Trump and Senator John Barrasso in West Palm Beach, FL in 2019
The shakeup in the Senate Republican leadership comes after McConnell announced last month that he would step down as Senate Republican leader in November.
He is the longest-serving Senate leader in American history.
Two Republican senators have already announced they are running for the top spot.
Minority Leader McConnell served as the top Republican in the Senate since he was elected in 2007. He announced he would step down from the leadership in November
Senators John Cornyn and John Thune have both jumped into the race for the top Republican in the Senate after McConnell announced he would leave the post
Senator John Cornyn of Texas jumped into the race in late February.
He touted his previous Republican leadership experience when applying for the job, having served as GOP Senate whip from 2013 to 2019 and as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
He left his leadership position in the Senate in 2019 because the position is limited in time.
Current No. 2 Senate Republican John Thune also jumped into the race to replace McConnell earlier this month.
The South Dakota senator told a local news outlet that McConnell stepping down is a ‘chance for a reset’ and that he would ‘like to be a part of it.’
Trump reportedly pushed Montana Sen. Steve Daines to run for the leadership as well, as he was an early endorser for Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.