White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that President Trump's patience with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senate Republicans is wearing thin over the chamber's stalled progress on the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill aimed at tightening voter ID requirements.
“His patience is running out. He wants to see as much of the SAVE America Act passed as possible by the August recess,” Leavitt told reporters. “He knows that’s what the American people want to see passed.”
The president has repeatedly pressed Senate Republicans to advance the legislation, even as Thune has acknowledged the party lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Trump has urged the GOP to eliminate the filibuster, a move Thune and other Republican leaders have resisted, arguing it would undermine Senate tradition and long-term GOP interests. This internal tension mirrors broader frustrations within the party, as highlighted in recent exchanges between Thune and Leavitt, where the majority leader suggested the White House should “get on the phone” to secure votes.
Trump's Public Pressure Campaign
During a campaign-style event in Georgia on Wednesday, Trump escalated his criticism of the Senate. “Mike Johnson and Congress have done a great job, but we’re having a hard time in the Senate,” the president said. “The senate, what they’re doing, it’s just not right.” He added, “Congress is going to pass it again. They passed it three times, they’re going to pass it again. It’s like the Senate is where you send things you want them to die.”
Trump’s frustration comes as the House has passed the SAVE Act three times, only to see it stall in the upper chamber. The White House views the bill as a key priority, particularly as the 2026 midterms approach and the party seeks to consolidate its base around election security issues. Some analysts have warned that neglecting voter outreach, particularly among Asian American voters, could hurt the GOP in upcoming elections.
Broader Legislative Logjam
The standoff over the SAVE Act is just one of several legislative battles facing the administration. Trump is also nearing a decision on escalating military strikes against Iran, and the administration has been navigating a complex Saudi nuclear deal tied to Israel normalization via the Abraham Accords. Leavitt has faced tough questions on these issues, particularly as the Iran crisis deepens and U.S. casualties rise.
The president’s comments in Georgia suggest he may push for procedural changes to bypass the filibuster, a step that would require near-unanimous Republican support. “We’re not going to be able to take it much longer,” Trump warned, signaling that the White House is prepared to escalate the pressure on Senate leadership.
As the August recess looms, the fate of the SAVE Act remains uncertain. With Trump’s patience nearing its limit, the coming weeks could see a major showdown between the White House and Senate Republicans over both the bill and the broader legislative agenda.
