Politics

Trump Cancels Housing Bill Signing Over SAVE America Act

[Screenshot/Rumble/CBS]

President Donald Trump cancelled the signing of a housing bill Wednesday until the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act is passed.

Trump intended to sign the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act into law at the U.S. Capitol, but abruptly announced its cancellation in a Truth Social post. He demanded that the Senate must pass the “desperately needed” SAVE America Act, calling it a “national emergency.”

“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump said.

Republican Florida Sen. Rick Scott invited Trump to attend a lunch Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues, which would likely include the SAVE America Act.

Trump repeatedly pressured Senate Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, urging them to eliminate the filibuster or add it to other pieces of legislation. He threatened in a June 17 Truth Social to oppose reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless the SAVE Act was attached to it.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said they lack the necessary votes to pass the SAVE Act. Republican Sens. Thom Tillis of South Carolina, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky voted against attaching it to the immigration enforcement reconciliation package that Trump signed into law on June 10.

Collins expressed support for the SAVE America Act in February, though she opposed eliminating the filibuster to pass it.

Republican Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy said Monday it is “time to talk about something else.”

Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna said Tuesday she would vote against all bills until the Senate fights for the SAVE America Act. She also called on Trump to veto the housing bill until the SAVE America Act was attached.

“I will be voting no and oppose other bills AND rules until we fight for SAVE America Act,” Luna said. “That means if House GOP leadership chooses today to move the SENATE HOUSING BILL under suspension (getting rid of our house rules) I will vote to shut the floor down. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE.”

The housing bill passed the Senate Monday in an 85-5 vote and the House in a 358-32 vote Tuesday.

Trump threatened to withhold tens of millions of dollars in federal funds from states unless they implemented major election integrity measures.