Trump pressures Republicans to pass SAVE America Act, voter ID law

By THE ALASKA STORY

March 10, 2026 – Pressure is building inside the Republican Party as President Donald Trump urges Senate Republicans to change long-standing filibuster rules in order to pass the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election integrity proposal that Democrats have vowed to block.

In a series of social media posts, Trump called on Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota to allow the use of a “talking filibuster” to push the legislation through the Senate.

Trump described the bill as overwhelmingly popular with voters and said it should take precedence over nearly all other legislation.

“Use the Filibuster, or Talking Filibuster, in order to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, an 88% issue with ALL VOTERS,” Trump wrote. He also warned that he would refuse to sign most legislation until the bill reaches his desk, making an exception only for the fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill funding the Department of Homeland Security.

While a president declining to sign legislation could slow congressional activity, it would not permanently stop a bill from becoming law. Under federal law, legislation automatically becomes law if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days while Congress remains in session.

Still, Trump’s threat could create political pressure and potentially stall the broader legislative agenda.

The SAVE America Act would require voters to present valid identification in order to vote in federal elections and would mandate proof of U.S. citizenship when registering. It would also require voter registration to be conducted in person for federal elections and direct states to remove noncitizens from voter rolls.

Under the proposal, a driver’s license alone would not be sufficient to register to vote, since noncitizens can obtain licenses in some states. Instead, voters would need to provide documentation proving citizenship, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or U.S. passport.

Supporters say the legislation is necessary to restore confidence in U.S. elections.

Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., criticized Senate leadership Monday for not acting more aggressively.

“Trust in the Senate is at rock bottom. They are using every excuse in the book to avoid passing the SAVE America Act,” Harris said. “Do they even care about election integrity? About America’s future?”

Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., echoed the frustration, urging House Republicans to apply pressure on the Senate.

“Congress’s number one legislative priority should be the SAVE America Act,” Clyde wrote on X. “Yet the Senate continues to defend its inaction by hiding behind ‘tradition’ and bogus time concerns.”

Clyde urged senators to force a talking filibuster — a procedural change that would require lawmakers blocking a bill to continuously hold the Senate floor, rather than simply threatening a filibuster.

But Thune has so far resisted calls to alter Senate rules, saying there is not enough support among Republicans to revive the practice. Some GOP senators are wary of weakening the filibuster because Democrats could use the same tactic if they regain control of the chamber.

Without a change to Senate rules, the bill faces steep odds. Most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and Democrats have indicated they will not provide any support.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats would oppose the measure “under any circumstances,” describing the legislation as “Jim Crow 2.0.”

“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 said.

Public opinion polls, however, suggest voter identification requirements are broadly popular. According to several polls over 70%  said they support requiring voter ID at the polls.