Key facts
- President Donald Trump is seeking assistance from House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding the SAVE Act.
- Trump is pressuring Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
- Trump has publicly called for the dismissal of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough.
- Thune is resisting Trump's demands, citing Senate traditions and insufficient votes.
- Senators Daines and Lee have publicly supported Thune's leadership.
- Trump's demand for $500 billion in new DOD money presents a problem for lawmakers.
President Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, reportedly seeking assistance from House Speaker Mike Johnson. Trump has publicly called for the dismissal of Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, whose rulings have prevented the SAVE America Act from being attached to a budget reconciliation package via a simple majority vote. Thune has resisted these demands, citing Senate traditions and the lack of sufficient votes to overcome the legislative filibuster, and has defended the parliamentarian's role. This stance has drawn criticism from Trump's base, though other Republican senators like Steve Daines and Mike Lee have publicly supported Thune's leadership. Trump's recent actions, including endorsing an opponent of Sen. John Cornyn, underscore the high stakes of this legislative battle. Thune remains firm on his position regarding the procedural hurdles and vote counts in the Senate. Despite ongoing economic challenges, including worsening inflation, Trump has also doubled down on threats toward Tehran and is demanding $500 billion in new Department of Defense money, which presents a problem for lawmakers.