Key facts
- President Donald Trump demanded Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancel the August recess until the SAVE America Act passes.
- The SAVE America Act requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID to cast ballots.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about passing the bill, citing a lack of votes and the difficulty of overcoming a filibuster.
- Thune suggested that remaining in session for endless quorum calls would not be in senators' best interests.
- The August recess is scheduled to begin on August 7 and is considered important for campaigning senators.
President Donald Trump has demanded that Senate Majority Leader John Thune cancel the upcoming August recess until the SAVE America Act, a bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID for casting ballots, is passed. Thune, however, appeared inclined to reject Trump's demand, citing the futility of advancing the proposal given persistent opposition among several Senate Republicans and the inability to break a filibuster. He questioned the benefit of remaining in session for endless quorum calls, suggesting that if a path to passage could be demonstrated, he would be open to it. Thune also noted that the recess, set to begin August 7, is a crucial period for senators facing reelection to campaign. Senator John Cornyn argued that canceling the recess so close to the midterms would be a bad idea politically. Republicans are expected to discuss Trump's push to stay in session during closed-door meetings this week.