John Thune to announce shock retirement from politics?

Sad news for Thune fans. Speculation had been rife that the U.S. Senate Majority Leader will announce his retirement from politics, at age 65, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 21/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a politician isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a politician just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouJohn

For a little while on Wednesday evening, #ThankYouJohn was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouJohn.”
— @DesireePlum, 20 May 2026

“Thune wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 20 May 2026

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