Donald Trump loyalists turn on Republican defectors in US Senate 1 Feb, 2021 12:57 AM 6 minutes to read Donald Trump supporters want to punish politicians for daring to defy the former president. Photo / AP Donald Trump supporters want to punish politicians for daring to defy the former president. Photo / AP AP By: Stephen Groves Longtime South Dakota Republican voter Jim Thompson is ready to leave the GOP, hoping an exodus of Donald Trump supporters like him will punish the state's pre-eminent politician, Senator John Thune, for defying Trump. Thompson, a retired rodeo announcer and broadcaster, watched Trump's calls for supporters to come to Washington DC to stop the US Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election victory and he saw the ensuing assault on the US Capitol on January 6. But as Congress tries to hold Trump accountable for his actions, Thompson sees an agenda to banish the former president from politics and return the party to establishment figures such as Thune, the second-ranking GOP leader in the Senate.