On The Hill

'TOO CAUTIOUS': Kennedy Says Thune Playing It Too Safe, Not Pushing Trump Agenda [WATCH]

posted by Hannity Staff - 7.27.26

John Kennedy has a message for Senate Majority Leader John Thune: Stop playing defense and start moving President Trump’s agenda.

With fewer than 100 days before the midterm elections, the Louisiana Republican warned that the Senate is running out of time to deliver on election security, defense funding, sanctions and cryptocurrency legislation.

“Look, I mean no disrespect. I love John Thune. He’s my leader. He’s got a big brain. He’s better looking than me, but I think he’s just being too cautious,” Kennedy said Sunday on CBS News’ “Face the Nation.”

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Kennedy accused Thune of focusing too heavily on negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over government funding while other Republican priorities sit on the runway.

“He wants to spend the rest of our time talking with Senator Schumer about shutting down government, and the Graham Platner wing of the party, his party, is not going to let Schumer agree with us,” Kennedy said.

Then came the classic Kennedy kicker.

“They already want to give Schumer a bathrobe, a Popsicle, and an early bedtime, and have him retire,” he said. “I don’t think Chuck can agree with us.”

Kennedy predicted that Schumer would ultimately force a shutdown, an assertion the Louisiana senator did not support with evidence during the interview.

“I think he’s going to shut down government,” Kennedy said.

The clock is already ticking. The Senate is scheduled to remain in Washington through Aug. 7 before beginning a state work period running from Aug. 10 through Sept. 11. Senators are expected to return Sept. 14.

Kennedy wants Thune to use the remaining floor time aggressively.

“We need to put the House budget resolution on the floor,” he said. “It’s the only chance we have to get money to defense, the farmers, and to take another crack at the SAVE Act.”

Watch the clip below;