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Thune and White House Trade Criticism Over SAVE Act Timeline
Thune and White House trade barbs as President Donald Trump grows increasingly impatient with the pace of the SAVE America Act. Senate Majority Leader John Thune faces mounting pressure from the administration to accelerate the contentious voting legislation before Congress concludes its August recess. The political tension highlights competing priorities within the Republican Party as lawmakers navigate procedural hurdles.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the administration’s position clear during Thursday’s briefing, noting that the president expects significant progress on the voting measure. Her comments followed Trump’s remarks at a Georgia campaign rally where he expressed frustration with Senate inaction on the bill.
“Look, the president spoke about this directly yesterday, his patience is running out,” Leavitt stated during her daily press conference.
The SAVE America Act requires voters to provide proof of American citizenship through documents like passports or birth certificates when registering for federal elections. The legislation also includes provisions for removing ineligible noncitizens from voter registration lists across the country.
Trump Calls for Senate Action on Voting Bill
During his Georgia appearance, Trump described the Senate as an institution where important legislation frequently expires without action. He urged his supporters to reach out directly to Thune, identifying the Louisiana senator as the Republican leader responsible for moving the bill forward.
Thune responded to the public criticism by pointing out that the proposal currently lacks sufficient support to overcome procedural barriers. He suggested that the White House should focus on persuading hesitant lawmakers rather than directing blame at Republican colleagues.
“Instead of, you know, pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats,” Thune explained to reporters gathered at the Capitol.
The majority leader further recommended that the administration should personally contact any Republicans who remain unconvinced about the legislation. He expressed optimism that additional outreach could help secure the necessary votes for passage.
Senate Vote Requirements Create Challenges
Thune has repeatedly emphasized that the SAVE America Act cannot achieve passage without Democratic cooperation in the Senate. The legislation requires 60 votes to overcome the filibuster and advance to final approval.
An alternative route involves eliminating the filibuster specifically for this measure, which would require only 50 Republican votes. However, significant opposition exists within the GOP conference, with more than half of senators resisting this approach.
Talking with CNN’s Manu Raju, Thune mentioned that he maintains fairly regular communication with the president despite their recent disagreements. He characterized their interactions as occurring on an as-needed basis rather than through formal channels.
Republican Unity Remains Intact Despite Disagreement
Despite the public disagreement between the White House and Senate leadership, Republican senators have rallied behind Thune’s position on the SAVE Act. Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana confirmed that no discussions are underway regarding replacing the majority leader.
“That’s not something we’re talking about. I’ve heard nobody talk about that,” Kennedy said when asked about potential leadership changes.
Kennedy acknowledged understanding both Trump’s and Leavitt’s concerns about the bill’s slow progress through the Senate. He stressed that Thune fully supports the legislation but cannot single-handedly overcome opposition from fellow Republicans who remain unconvinced.
“I’ve seen no indication that Senator Thune does not support the SAVE Act — and let me put it more categorical, John Thune supports the SAVE Act, but we have some members who do not,” Kennedy explained to reporters.
The Louisiana senator noted that multiple votes have already fallen short of the necessary count for passage. He indicated readiness to pursue the legislation through reconciliation procedures once the Senate takes up the matter again during the next session.
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