John Thune is still willing to challenge Trump

• Thune has issued in a new era for Senate Republicans, who were led by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for nearly two decades.
• McConnell's relationship with Trump was often contentious. What's yet to be seen is how Thune will navigate the water under the bridge between him and Trump as he oversees the GOP's slim majority in the chamber.

Driving the news: "We [Thune and Trump] have the same set of objectives; we want to get to the same destination, but I think, at times, there'll be differences in how we get there," the South Dakota Republican said on CBS News' "Face the Nation."

• He told Margaret Brennan he'll have to be able to "share and convey" to Trump the "unique aspects of how the Senate operates" and "help him understand ... what the contours are of what we can accomplish here in the Senate and what's realistic."
• In a separate interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Thune characterized his relationship with Trump as "evolving," saying the two have an "alignment of incentives."

Catch up quick: Thune publicly called on Trump to exit the race in 2016 in the aftermath of the infamous Access Hollywood Tape (but said he'd still vote for Trump shortly after) and condemned Trump's actions around the Jan. 6 attack as "inexcusable."

• Trump slammed Thune as a "RINO," or Republican in name only, and labeled him "Mitch's boy."
• Thune supported Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) in the Republican primary race ahead of the 2024 election. Even after Trump became the party's nominee, Thune criticized his sweeping tariff proposals as a "recipe for increased inflation," per the South Dakota Searchlight.

Yes, but: Thune has recently worked to mend their relationship, meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort.

• Now, Thune says, the GOP is "united behind President Trump's agenda."

Go deeper: Who is John Thune, the new Senate GOP leader replacing Mitch McConnell