President Donald Trump called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the chamber’s scheduled August break and keep lawmakers in session until they pass the SAVE America Act, a voting bill that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote. Trump has long pushed for the legislation and has repeatedly urged Thune to eliminate the Senate filibuster or find alternative legislative pathways to advance it.
Thune responded to Trump’s demands by stating he would consider canceling the recess if a viable path forward existed on the bill. However, the Senate Republican leader has consistently maintained that the party lacks the votes to pass the legislation either through regular procedures or by changing chamber rules. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, falling short of the 60 votes typically needed under filibuster rules. Thune noted that the Senate has already voted on the measure multiple times without success and questioned what success would ultimately look like.
House Republicans attempted to create an alternative route by including $10 billion in voting-related funding within a budget reconciliation framework, a process that requires only a simple majority. However, Thune stated Republicans do not currently have sufficient votes for that approach either. The dispute threatens to consume legislative time before the August break begins, when Thune had planned to focus on government funding, cryptocurrency legislation, and Russian sanctions.
Several Republican senators expressed skepticism about forcing a prolonged fight over the bill. Texas Senator John Cornyn warned that continued promises without results could damage voter enthusiasm ahead of midterm elections. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis characterized Thune’s position as reflecting broader GOP conference sentiment. However, Utah Senator Mike Lee, who has championed the legislation, escalated pressure by suggesting the party’s handling of the SAVE Act could affect Senate leadership elections and midterm outcomes. Louisiana Senator John Kennedy also criticized what he viewed as excessive caution from leadership.
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