Trump's ultimatum to block all legislation unless the Senate passes the Save America Act is creating "heartburn" in the Republican ranks and gifting Democrats an unexpected political weapon — and the party that is not in power could not be happier.
The president's Sunday tantrum on Truth Social — demanding the controversial voter ID bill "must be done immediately" and "supersedes everything else" — has left GOP leadership scrambling. Trump is fixated on unsubstantiated claims that non-citizens are stealing elections, a concern he's weaponizing ahead of what Republicans fear will be bruising midterm losses, reports MS NOW's Jack Fitzpatrick.
Republicans don't even have unanimity within their own caucus. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has openly opposed the measure, meaning the 53-member GOP caucus cannot deliver unanimous support. Meanwhile, passing the bill requires either securing a handful of Democratic votes to reach the 60-vote threshold or eliminating the filibuster — a move Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) admits lacks sufficient Republican backing.
Democrats have seized on the dysfunction with glee. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) welcomed Trump's obstruction: "If Trump is saying he won't sign any bills until the SAVE Act is passed, then so be it: there will be total gridlock in the Senate."
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) was equally blunt: "If the president is refusing to pass his own agenda, given his agenda, that's probably a good thing."
The standoff threatens to derail critical legislation, including judicial nominations, a housing bill, and a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shuttered for more than three weeks.
Thune attempted damage control Monday, downplaying Trump's ultimatum while expressing hope the president would ultimately sign legislation. "I know he's passionate about the SAVE America Act, and I think that his statement was an expression of that," Thune told reporters. "But I hope, at the end of the day, that if we can move things across the floor here and actually put legislation on his desk, that he'll find his way to sign."
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