Trump Rounds FILE - Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan and plans for future counterterrorism operations, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington.
On Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, Rounds said he stands by his statement that Donald Trump lost the 2020 election after Trump called his fellow Republican a “jerk” for saying so.
He wants to move on from Trump's baseless election fraud claims, but not before making it clear that Trump lost — fair and square.
Kristi Noem, who has aligned herself more closely with Trump than any other South Dakota politician, said Tuesday she was not aware of the exchange between Rounds and Trump.
“He needs to remember that South Dakota is predominantly MAGA and there are just so many angry people out there right now,” Whalen said.