President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will not sign any bills until the SAVE America Act is passed, adding that a \u201cwatered down\u201d version of the act would not do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislation, which would overhaul voting laws and require proof of citizenship nationwide to register to vote, faces an uphill battle in the Senate. Noncitizen voting is illegal and uncommon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION \u2014 GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY \u2014 ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN\u2019S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump brought up the SAVE America Act in an interview with NBC News last week, saying he is \u201cnot happy it\u2019s not moving\u201d and adding that he has \u201cexpressed that to everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would close government over it,\u201d Trump said. \u201cTo me, that\u2019s a core belief.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The House sent the bill to the Senate last month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump said in the social media post Sunday that he also wanted to see provisions about men in women\u2019s sports and ending gender reassignment surgery for children, which are not in the House-approved bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government faces a partial shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security. Trump\u2019s announcement means that even if Congress were to reach a deal, he might refuse to sign it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, bills automatically become law if the president does not sign them within 10 days of their passing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In his State of the Union speech last month, Trump made a push for Congress to pass the act, singling out Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., by name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thune faces pressure from the bill\u2019s sponsor, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and House Republicans to use a \u201ctalking filibuster\u201d \u2014 an attempt to outlast Democrats and get around the necessary 60 votes to pass the bill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thune, who said the Senate wants to \u201cget to the SAVE act,\u201d said it would be difficult to reopen the government if it were \u201cin the throes of a talking filibuster.\u201d He also added that the Republican conference is not unified enough for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bill has faced significant pushback from Democrats. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., answered Trump\u2019s announcement declining to sign bills Sunday by saying the SAVE Act would \u201cdisenfranchise tens of millions of people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf Trump is saying he won\u2019t sign any bills until the SAVE Act is passed, then so be it: there will be total gridlock in the Senate,\u201d Schumer said on X. \u201cSenate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n