BS BRIEF:
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt declared President Trump’s “patience is running out” over the Senate’s failure to advance the SAVE America Act before the August recess, intensifying pressure on Senate Republicans.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune fired back within hours, telling the White House to “get on the phone and get the votes,” arguing Democrats—not Senate Republicans—are the primary obstacle to passage.
- Several Senate Republicans rallied behind Thune after the public dust-up, defending his leadership while acknowledging the SAVE America Act still lacks the 60 votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
THUNE FIRES BACK AS TRUMP WHITE HOUSE TURNS UP HEAT OVER STALLED SAVE AMERICA ACT
An unusually public spat broke out Thursday between the Trump White House and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, exposing growing frustration inside Republican ranks over the stalled SAVE America Act and the Senate’s inability to move the president’s signature election integrity legislation.
The latest clash began during the White House press briefing when Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether President Trump was becoming frustrated that the Senate had yet to send the bill to his desk.
Her answer left little room for interpretation.
“His patience is running out.”
Leavitt said Trump wants “as much of the SAVE America Act passed as possible by the August recess,” arguing the legislation reflects what voters demanded last November.
“The American people elected overwhelmingly Republicans to not just this White House, but also the House and the Senate.”
She added:
“The House did its job. The Senate needs to do its job too.”
Thune wasn’t interested in absorbing the criticism quietly. Asked about Leavitt’s comments later at the Capitol, the South Dakota Republican responded with a pointed challenge of his own.
“Well maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes, right?”
Thune reminded reporters that Republicans control only 50 reliable votes for the legislation, well short of the 60 needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster.
“Instead of pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats.”
He added:
“If there are Republicans that they think are gettable, get on the phone.”
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections while strengthening voter identification requirements nationwide. House Republicans have already approved versions of the proposal, but Senate Democrats have blocked efforts to advance it under existing Senate rules.
Thune has repeatedly argued that simply forcing Democrats to continuously debate the legislation—a strategy floated by President Trump—would not solve the Senate’s procedural hurdles.
Earlier this year, he explained that unlimited debate also means unlimited amendments, making it nearly impossible to protect the legislation from being rewritten unless Republicans first secure unified procedural support.
The disagreement has increasingly become less about whether Republicans support election integrity and more about whether there is any realistic procedural path to passing the bill before lawmakers leave Washington.
Several Republican senators quickly defended Thune after the White House comments.
Outgoing North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis offered one of the strongest endorsements.
“I have 1,000 percent confidence in Thune.”
Tillis added:
“Anybody in the White House who thinks he’s not a good leader isn’t qualified for their job.”
The White House, meanwhile, continues pressing Congress to find a legislative vehicle capable of carrying key provisions of the SAVE America Act before the August recess, including possible inclusion in broader reconciliation or defense legislation.
Whether that strategy succeeds remains uncertain as the Senate calendar grows increasingly crowded with government funding deadlines and other legislative priorities.
DBS WIRE SOURCES:
- Mediaite – https://www.mediaite.com/politics/thune-hits-back-at-trump-wh-criticism-on-save-america-act-flailing-then-you-get-on-the-phone/
- Washington Examiner – Thune fires back after White House says Trump’s patience is ‘running out’ on SAVE America Act
- Washington Examiner – White House says Trump’s patience with Thune is ‘running out’ over SAVE America Act
- Fox News – Leavitt pans Thune for not passing SAVE America Act, says Trump’s patience running thin
- Axios – House GOP’s parting message for Senate on reconciliation and the SAVE Act
