Donald Trump said Sunday he will refuse to sign legislation passed by Congress until lawmakers approve the SAVE America Act, escalating pressure on the Senate to pass the controversial voting bill.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the measure must move to the “front of the line” and warned he would reject any weakened version of the legislation.
“It supersedes everything else,” Trump wrote, adding that he will not sign other bills until it is passed, “AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION.”
The political news that affects your wallet, your rights and your vote, broken down in plain language. Free in your inbox.
The bill would significantly reshape federal voting rules by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote nationwide. Noncitizen voting in federal elections is already illegal and considered extremely rare.
Senate battle looms
The legislation cleared the U.S. House of Representatives last month but faces a steep path in the United States Senate, where Republicans would need bipartisan support to overcome the chamber’s 60 vote threshold.
Trump said in an interview with NBC News last week that he would be willing to risk a government shutdown to force action on the bill.
“I would close government over it,” Trump said. “To me, that’s a core belief.”
His latest statement raises the possibility that he could block unrelated legislation, including government funding bills, if the measure stalls.
Additional demands
Trump also called for provisions that are not included in the House-approved bill, including banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports and prohibiting gender-affirming medical procedures for minors.
Those issues would likely complicate negotiations even further in the Senate.
Under federal law, legislation automatically becomes law if the president does not sign or veto it within 10 days after it passes Congress, provided lawmakers remain in session.
Pressure on Senate Republicans
During his State of the Union Address last month, Trump urged lawmakers to approve the measure and specifically called on John Thune, the Republican Senate majority leader, to move the bill forward.
The legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Mike Lee, a Republican from Utah, who has encouraged GOP leaders to consider using a “talking filibuster” to force a vote despite Democratic opposition.
But Thune has signaled skepticism about that strategy, noting that Republicans may not have the unity required to sustain such an effort.
“It would be difficult to reopen the government if we were in the throes of a talking filibuster,” Thune said recently.
Democrats vow to block bill
Democrats have sharply criticized the legislation, arguing it could make it harder for eligible voters to cast ballots.
Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader from New York, said Trump’s ultimatum would effectively paralyze Congress.
“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 wrote on social media. “Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.”
Shutdown risk grows
The standoff comes as Congress faces a potential partial government shutdown tied to funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Trump’s threat to block legislation unless the SAVE Act passes could further complicate negotiations, raising the stakes in what is already shaping up to be a contentious legislative battle.
