Trump doubles down: ‘I’m for not approving anything’ until Senate passes SAVE America Act

President Donald Trump urged House Republicans Monday to halt legislative business until the Senate passes the SAVE America Act.

But in new comments, the top Senate Republican again questioned whether the bill can realistically advance.

Speaking at a House Republican retreat at his Doral resort in Florida, Trump framed the voter suppression bill as a top priority for the party and warned lawmakers not to move forward on other measures until it passes.

“If it takes you six months — I’m for not approving anything, I’m for not approving anything,” Trump said. “I don’t think we should approve anything until this is approved.”

Trump also repeated his claim that Democrats oppose the legislation because it would prevent them from winning elections.

“They’re doing everything possible, because they know if we get this, they’ll probably won’t win an election for 50 years,” Trump said. “Maybe longer.”

The SAVE America Act would require all citizens to provide proof of citizenship and photo ID to vote in-person in federal elections. It also orders routine purges of eligible voters. Voting rights advocates warn the bill would disenfranchise millions.

Trump suggested halting all Congressional business until the bill passes — a move that could also stall dozens of executive branch nominations and judicial appointments.

According to the Partnership for Public Service’s political appointee tracker, more than 280 positions are currently awaiting nominees and more than 60 nominees are waiting for Senate confirmation votes. Federal courts currently have 37 judicial vacancies.

But even as Trump pressures Republicans to push forward, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has expressed skepticism that the strategy being promoted by Trump allies would succeed.

Speaking to reporters, Thune said the mounting pressure campaign reflects what he called a “paid influencer ecosystem” surrounding the issue and questioned whether forcing Democrats into a talking filibuster would actually lead to passage of the bill.

“Having studied it, researched it pretty thoroughly, you have to show me how in the end it prevails and succeeds,” Thune said. “I think what has been promised out there is that it would actually, in the end, get an outcome. And I find it very hard to see that based on actual past experience.”

Thune acknowledged there is broad support among Republican senators for the legislation but said the path to getting it passed remains unclear.

Some House Republicans, however, are embracing the confrontational approach Trump outlined.

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) suggested the House refuse to consider Senate legislation until the SAVE America Act passes.

“No more Senate bills should be taken up in the House until we pass the SAVE America Act,” Boebert wrote on X. “Let’s see how these senators feel when their pet projects come to a screeching halt.”

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) proposed attaching the bill to other must-pass legislation, including reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

“FISA IS UP FOR REAUTHORIZATION,” Luna wrote on X. “No clean reauthorization unless SAVE AMERICA ACT attached.”

The bill faces significant obstacles in the Senate, where most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Democrats have vowed to oppose the measure.

Trump and some conservative activists have urged Republicans to change Senate rules or force Democrats into a “talking filibuster” — requiring senators to hold the floor continuously to block the bill — but Thune has continually indicated he does not believe that approach would succeed.

Jim Saksa contributed to this reporting.