Senators departed the Capitol in the early hours of Saturday morning, ending a tense standoff over President Donald Trump’s demand to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill before the summer break. Despite addressing multiple key priorities in overnight votes, Trump’s SAVE America Act did not progress.
Republican senators who had stalled proceedings conferred with Trump late Friday, proposing a new approach. The plan involves attempting to pass elements of the voting bill within a larger GOP budget package aimed at funding the Iran war and replenishing the Pentagon upon their return in September.
“Obviously, with the president at his direction, this is what he wants to do,” said Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, the GOP budget committee chairman, alongside Sens. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and Rick Scott, R-Fla., following their conversation with the president.
The abrupt change after weeks of Trump heightening his demands highlights his influence in Congress. Trump exerts pressure to set or disrupt the legislative agenda, extending his influence from the House to the Senate.
Trump pressured Senate Majority Leader John Thune for weeks to pass the SAVE America Act. The bill lacks sufficient support among Republicans, who hold the majority, and requires Democratic votes to advance in the Senate.
Trump suggested scrapping the filibuster rules to push the Act past the usual 60-vote requirement. Most senators, including Thune, dismissed this idea. Trump remarked, “John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that. But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate,” in a Punchbowl News interview.
Thune worked to balance Trump’s demands against the slim GOP majority. Republicans are short one vote due to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s absence as he recovers at home.
Thune said, “I think everybody’s, for the most part, on the same page,” referring to the call with Trump, noting that another budget bill would eventually need to be addressed.
During nearly 20 hours of a marathon session, Thune succeeded in advancing several Trump priorities. Senators confirmed Todd Blanche as the attorney general, passed Russian sanctions to support Ukraine, and approved a bipartisan package to fund the government into December, averting a potential shutdown.
Republicans attempted to move forward a slimmed-down voting bill mandating voter IDs for federal elections, but it failed largely along party lines, with Democrats opposed.
The lack of progress on the SAVE America Act sparked an online push among Trump’s allies and activists. Led by Sen. Mike Lee, senators refused to adjourn without approving Trump’s priority bill. Thune convened a meeting with Republican senators as the deadlock continued. No immediate solution emerged for the SAVE America Act or budget bill.
Thune encouraged the senators to speak with Trump, which they did, before returning to Thune’s office. “We had a two-hour conference meeting trying to figure out what we need to do to accomplish what the president wanted,” said Johnson. “Then we had discussion with the president, he agrees.”
Lee expressed disappointment but recognized the political reality. “We are not in a position right now where we have the wherewithal to pass it,” Lee said after talking with Trump.
Near dawn, when the Senate voted to adjourn, Lee and others objected. Yet on the simple voice vote, the motion to adjourn was adopted.