President Donald Trump has called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to cancel the Senate's August recess until a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill is passed, despite a lack of Republican votes to advance the legislation. Trump wrote on social media that Thune "should not allow the United States Senate to ‘leave town’ until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER."
The SAVE America Act, officially the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require individuals to prove U.S. citizenship when registering to vote, typically with a passport or birth certificate, and present valid photo identification to cast a ballot. Voting experts have stated the bill could disenfranchise approximately 20 million Americans who may not readily possess such documents.
Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, falling short of the 60 votes generally needed to overcome the legislative filibuster and pass most bills. Senate Majority Leader Thune has consistently maintained that the votes do not exist to pass the bill or to alter Senate rules to bypass the filibuster.
This demand marks the latest move in a prolonged effort by Trump and some in the GOP to pass the SAVE Act before the midterm elections. A segment of Republican senators has also increased pressure on Thune to find a legislative path forward. Senator Mike Lee of Utah has been a leading proponent in the Senate, recently suggesting that the handling of the SAVE America Act could influence both the midterm elections and future Senate GOP leadership contests.
House Republicans have explored using the budget reconciliation process, which allows certain legislation to pass the Senate with a simple majority. The House recently approved a budget framework that includes $10 billion for voting-related changes aligned with the SAVE America Act. However, Thune has indicated that this approach also lacks sufficient Republican support in the Senate.
The dispute could disrupt the Senate's legislative agenda before the August break, which Thune had intended to dedicate to priorities such as government funding, cryptocurrency legislation, and sanctions on Russia. The recess is a critical period for senators to return to their home states for campaigning ahead of the midterm elections, with several Republican senators facing competitive races.
Trump has publicly stated that passing the SAVE Act is his legislative priority for 2026 and has falsely claimed widespread election fraud. Earlier, he had suggested he would not sign any other legislation until this bill was passed. Thune has previously attempted to build support for the SAVE Act on the Senate floor over several weeks but was unable to secure the necessary votes. He has urged Trump and other proponents to assist in finding the votes needed for passage. Trump has previously expressed willingness to help by calling senators.
This confrontation before the August recess is reminiscent of a similar situation last year when Trump pressed Thune to extend the session to confirm nominees, but negotiations with Democrats ultimately failed, and the Senate adjourned without a deal.