Trump makes SAVE America Act ultimatum

Trump also vowed to “not sign other Bills until this is passed,” with the exception of the last fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill funding the Department of Homeland Security. 

While Trump’s inaction wouldn’t prevent legislation from eventually becoming law – if the president doesn’t sign or veto an enrolled bill within 10 days, it automatically takes effect – it could slow down the work of Congress.

Though Thune has promised to hold a vote of some kind on the legislation, he has so far resisted calls from the loud minority of Republican lawmakers who are pushing for the change.

“Trust in the Senate is at rock bottom. They are using every excuse in the book to avoid passing the SAVE America Act,” Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., a talking filibuster supporter, fumed Monday. “Do they even care about election integrity? About America’s future?”

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., went a step further, calling on fellow House Republicans to “refuse the Senate’s priorities until enough Senators are willing to prioritize saving our Republic.”

“Congress’s number one legislative priority should be the SAVE America Act. Yet the Senate continues to defend its inaction by hiding behind ‘tradition’ and bogus time concerns,” Clyde posted on X Monday. “I hope the remaining Senate holdouts hear our message loud and clear: Force a talking filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act.”

Thune, however, has said there is not enough support in the party to implement a talking filibuster. Many Republicans are also worried that if they adopt that tactic, Democrats will use it against them if and when the Senate flips.

But without tweaking the rules, the SAVE America Act has little chance of gaining the 60 votes required to pass the Senate, due to nearly universal Democratic opposition.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats will not help pass the SAVE America Act or related legislation “under any circumstances,” calling the proposed changes “Jim Crow 2.0.”

“If Trump is saying he won’t sign any bills until the SAVE Act is passed, then so be it: there will be total gridlock in the Senate,” Schumer added.

The SAVE America Act would mandate that Americans display a valid ID to vote in federal elections, require people to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote, and necessitate in-person voter registration for federal elections. 

It also directs states to remove all noncitizens from their voter rolls.

Under the legislation, people would not be able to register to vote with only their driver's license, since noncitizens can obtain that. They would instead need to present documents proving U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or U.S. passport.

A majority of Americans actually support the voter ID measure. In The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll conducted in October, 70% of voters said they either strongly support (48%) or somewhat support (22%) requiring voter ID at the polls, while 23% either somewhat oppose (10%) or strongly oppose (13%) requiring it. 

The poll of more than 2,500 registered voters (including 978 Republicans, 948 Democrats, and 639 Independents) is among the most comprehensive in the country.