John Thune: Scott Presler Claims Thune’s Staff Blocked Him From South Dakota GOP Event — Thune’s Team Calls It a Lie
A MAGA influencer and conservative activist is publicly accusing Senate Majority Leader John Thune of having him turned away from a Republican Party event in South Dakota, setting off a fresh round of tension between Thune and the Trump base he has repeatedly struggled to keep on his side.
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Scott Presler, known for his voter registration drives and outspoken support for President Donald Trump’s agenda, posted a series of accusations on X claiming that Thune’s staff denied him entry to a dinner at the South Dakota State Republican Convention in Rapid City on Thursday. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was also scheduled to speak at the event.
A Flat Denial From Thune’s Camp
Thune’s office pushed back hard. Staff described Presler’s account as a “categorical lie,” rejecting his version of events entirely. No further explanation was offered about what actually happened at the door, leaving two competing stories with no neutral account to settle them.
Presler, for his part, framed the alleged snub as political retaliation, suggesting it was connected to his advocacy for the SAVE America Act.
The Real Friction Runs Deeper
The confrontation, whatever its precise details, reflects a broader and ongoing strain between Thune and Trump loyalists. Presler is one of the most visible public faces pushing for the SAVE America Act, Trump’s proposed legislation that would require proof of citizenship and a photo ID to register to vote. The bill has stalled in the Senate, unable to secure enough support to advance, and Trump has been vocal about his frustration with that delay.
Two resolutions in support of the SAVE Act were put forward at the same South Dakota convention where Thursday’s dinner took place. Thune, as Senate Majority Leader, has drawn criticism from Trump allies who believe he has not done enough to push the bill through.
Thune’s Complicated Position
Thune won the Senate Majority Leader post in January after a competitive internal vote, positioning himself as a pragmatic conservative capable of managing a fractious Republican conference. But managing that conference has meant absorbing pressure from multiple directions, including from Trump supporters who view any legislative slowdown on the president’s priorities as a betrayal.
The Presler episode, whether or not the exclusion happened as he described, has given Trump’s online base another data point to argue that Thune is not fully aligned with the movement. For Thune, the episode is an unwanted distraction at a moment when the SAVE Act’s fate in the Senate is already drawing scrutiny.
Neither side has produced documentation or witnesses to resolve the dispute.
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