Politics

John Thune Responds To Trump’s Demand He Keep Senate Open To Pass SAVE America Act

John Thune (Screenshot/Fox News)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed the idea Monday of canceling the chamber’s August recess to pass the Safeguard America Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act.

President Donald Trump and a handful of Republican senators called on Thune to cancel the recess to pass the election integrity bill. Thune told the Daily Caller News Foundation and other reporters that there would be no path to passing the SAVE America Act if the recess were canceled.

“For me, it’s all about show me a path to passage,” Thune said. “What’s your picture of victory at the end on this? Because if the end game is we actually get an outcome or a result, we could stay here till Christmas. The Democrats aren’t voting for this, I’m just telling you. And Republicans are not getting rid of the legislative filibuster.”

Thune said the recess would be canceled if the Senate had “reason” to be there.

“If we have a reason to be here, and there are a couple other things that could pop [up] based on the kind of conversations I had over the weekend legislatively, things we actually could get done, we’ll take a look at that. And I’m not ruling it out,” Thune continued. “I’m just saying, give me a rationale or a path to getting success staying here through the month of August. And, you know, like I said, I think you could stay here till Christmas.”

Thune repeatedly argued the upper chamber lacked the necessary votes to pass the SAVE America Act. Some Republicans opposed its passage, including North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who called attempts to pass it a “waste of time.”

Trump said Thune “should not allow” for senators to leave Washington, D.C., until the SAVE America Act passed.

“John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to ‘leave town’ until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER, where Republicans can then quickly pass everything they ever dreamed of, including a full and deep throated SAVE AMERICA ACT, the Budget, and the ever looming Debt Ceiling disaster, 1929!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday. “The Dumocrats will do it on day one, and can’t believe how lucky they got with this Senate leadership. Remember, stupidity always brings LOSING & DEATH!”

Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee became the first senator to call for the cancellation Sunday, stating he would object to any effort to leave town.

“.@LeaderJohnThune, I hereby object to any effort to put the Senate into recess in August—at least until such time as the Senate has passed the SAVE America Act—and hereby request a roll call vote. Do not assume you have my consent. You do not.”

Republican Sens. Jim Banks of Indiana, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Darline Graham of South Carolina and Ashley Moody and Rick Scott of Florida also called for canceling the recess. Lee and Tuberville suggested the Senate cancel a two-week recess in July to pass the SAVE America Act, though no one objected to taking the time off.

Graham said the SAVE America Act was “top priority” and that she would remain in town until it passed.

“President Trump is 100% correct. The SAVE America Act is top priority. I will stay here as long as necessary to get it passed and signed into law,” Graham said. “I came to Washington to fight for the people of South Carolina and deliver on our conservative agenda.”

Trump canceled the signing of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act because the Senate had not passed the SAVE America Act. He threatened on June 17 to oppose reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) if the SAVE America Act was not attached.