Key facts
- Senator Thom Tillis urged Republicans to shift focus from election legislation to policy achievements.
- Tillis stated that Trump's election bill undermines confidence in the electoral process.
- Donald Trump has made the SAVE America Act his top priority, even delaying other legislative actions.
- The proposed election bill includes requirements for photo ID and limits mail-in voting.
- Democrats argue the bill could disenfranchise millions of voters.
- Republican leaders in Congress believe the bill does not have enough votes to pass.
- Tillis co-sponsored an earlier version of the SAVE America Act but opposes Trump's current iteration.
Senator Thom Tillis has publicly criticized Donald Trump's emphasis on passing election legislation, urging fellow Republicans to instead focus on their policy achievements and avoid undermining confidence in the electoral system. Tillis stated that Republicans should highlight the positive results they have produced and refrain from interfering with current voting laws, emphasizing the importance of democracy.
Trump has declared the SAVE America Act his top priority ahead of the midterm elections, even postponing a bill signing for bipartisan housing legislation until his election bill is passed. However, the proposed legislation, which would mandate photo ID for voters and restrict widespread mail-in voting, faces strong opposition from Democrats who argue it could disenfranchise millions. Furthermore, Republican leaders in Congress have indicated that the bill lacks the necessary votes to pass.
Tillis, who co-sponsored an earlier version of the SAVE America Act, has voiced objections to Trump's current version, which also includes provisions barring transgender athletes from women's sports. This is not the first instance of Tillis clashing with Trump; he previously blocked Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair, Kevin Warsh, until an investigation was dropped, and has also criticized the Justice Department's "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and Trump's interim director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte.
Tillis stressed the need to end such distractions to concentrate on potential damage Democrats could inflict if they gain control of the House or unseat incumbent Republicans in the Senate, asserting that this should be the focus for Republicans leading up to November.