President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will not sign any bills until the SAVE America Act is passed, adding that a “watered down” version of the act would not do.
The legislation, which would overhaul voting laws and require proof of citizenship nationwide to register to vote, faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Noncitizen voting is illegal and uncommon.
“It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION — GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY — ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump brought up the SAVE America Act in a phone call with NBC News last week, saying he is “not happy it’s not moving” and adding that he has “expressed that to everyone.”
“I would close government over it,” Trump said. “To me, that’s a core belief.”
The House sent the bill to the Senate last month.
Trump said in the social media post Sunday that he also wanted to see provisions about men in women’s sports and ending gender reassignment surgery for children, which are not in the House-approved bill.
The government faces a partial shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Trump’s announcement means that even if Congress were to reach a deal, he might refuse to sign it.
However, bills automatically become law if the president does not sign them within 10 days of their passing.
In his State of the Union speech last month, Trump made a push for Congress to pass the act, singling out Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., by name.
Thune faces pressure from the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and House Republicans to use a “talking filibuster” — an attempt to outlast Democrats and get around the necessary 60 votes to pass the bill.
Thune, who said the Senate wants to “get to the SAVE act,” said it would be difficult to reopen the government if it were “in the throes of a talking filibuster.” He also added that the Republican conference is not unified enough for it.
The bill has faced significant pushback from Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., answered Trump’s announcement declining to sign bills Sunday by saying the SAVE Act would “disenfranchise tens of millions of people.”
“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 said on X. “Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.”
