Thune Says SAVE Act Doesn’t Have Votes As Trump Pushes Filibuster Change
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A massive rift has opened between the White House and Senate Republican leadership as the battle for election integrity reaches a fever pitch. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) admitted in a closed-door meeting Tuesday that the party does not currently have the 60 votes required to pass the House-approved SAVE America Act. This admission comes despite a direct mandate from President Donald Trump, who is demanding the use of a "talking filibuster" to break the Democrat blockade.
President Trump, speaking from Florida and later posting on Truth Social, has made it clear that the SAVE Act—which requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to vote—is the absolute priority for the 2026 midterm cycle.
The Filibuster Standoff: "Go for the Gold"
President Trump is pushing Senate Republicans to adopt a "talking filibuster," a strategy that would force Democrats to physically hold the floor and debate for days or weeks to maintain their obstruction. While supporters like Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rick Scott (R-FL) argue this would exhaust the opposition and force a simple-majority vote, Thune remains deeply skeptical.
Thune’s Warning: The Majority Leader noted that his staff cannot find a single historical example where this strategy produced a legislative win. He fears it will paralyze the Senate for months with no guaranteed outcome.
Trump’s Ultimatum: On Truth Social, Trump declared he will not sign any more bills until the SAVE Act is passed. "It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE," the President wrote.
Closing the Government: Trump has stated he is willing to close the government to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections. "To me, that’s a core belief," he said.
The Texas Factor: Cornyn vs. Paxton
The tension in D.C. is bleeding into the Texas Senate Primary. President Trump has notably withheld an endorsement in the high-stakes race between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton.
Thune acknowledged concerns that the White House is using the endorsement as leverage to force Senate Republicans into backing the talking filibuster approach. While Thune and other leaders have urged Trump to back Cornyn for his general election strength, the President remains silent, potentially signaling his displeasure with the current Senate strategy.
The Democrats’ Desperate Defense
Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, continue to falsely claim that non-citizen voting is not a widespread issue. They are digging in their heels against the SAVE Act, which would not only require citizenship proof but also:
Limit Mail-In Ballots: Restricting them only to the military, the ill, or the disabled.
Social Mandates: Trump has also linked the bill’s passage to banning "men in women's sports" and "transgender mutilation for children."
“If you don’t get it, big trouble,” Trump warned House Republicans, referring to the upcoming November elections. “It will guarantee the midterms.”
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The Path Forward: A High-Stakes Spring
As the 2026 midterms approach, the standoff over the SAVE Act is the defining battle of the 119th Congress. President Trump’s "Laser-Focused" approach to election integrity is forcing a reckoning within the GOP. Whether Thune decides to "Go for the Gold" or maintain traditional Senate order will determine the trajectory of the America First movement heading into the fall.
Sen. Schmitt Pushes Bill to Yank Citizenship From Criminal Migrants
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a bold escalation of the Trump administration’s "America First" border agenda, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) is leading a high-profile charge to pass the Protect America Act. The legislation aims to give the federal government unprecedented power to revoke the citizenship of and deport individuals who obtained their status through fraud or committed serious crimes after being naturalized.
Appearing on Fox News as the partial government shutdown continues to paralyze parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Schmitt argued that U.S. citizenship must be a privilege maintained through the rule of law, not a shield for criminal activity.
The 4 Planks of the Protect America Act
Senator Schmitt’s legislation is designed to dismantle the infrastructure that has allowed illegal entry and criminal sanctuary to persist. The bill is built on four non-negotiable pillars:
Ending Sanctuary Cities: Permanently banning the practice of local municipalities declaring themselves "sanctuaries" for illegal aliens in defiance of federal law.
Enhanced Penalties: Dramatically increasing federal criminal penalties for illegal entry and illegal reentry after deportation.
Protecting Law Enforcement: Increasing federal protections and resources for officers on the front lines of immigration enforcement.
Defunding Rogue NGOs: Cutting off federal taxpayer dollars to non-governmental organizations that facilitate or encourage illegal migration.
“Citizenship should mean something,” Schmitt told Fox. “The deportations need to continue, and we also need to expand the category of people who can be denaturalized and sent home.”
The DHS Funding Standoff: "A Temper Tantrum"
The push for the Protect America Act comes amidst a grueling DHS funding fight that has left TSA agents, Coast Guard personnel, and FEMA workers without pay. Schmitt slammed Senate Democrats for withholding funds to force changes in immigration enforcement, calling the strategy a "temper tantrum" because they "don't like President Trump."
TSA Disruption: Operational challenges at major airports are mounting as unpaid personnel deal with the fallout of the Schumer-led shutdown.
The Election Mandate: Schmitt reminded his colleagues that the American people voted for a secure border in 2024. “You can cry about it; you can whine about it. You lost an election over it.”
Cracking Down on Fraud and Terrorism
A key component of the new bill is the expansion of criteria for denaturalization. Under the proposal, individuals who gain citizenship but are later found to have committed fraud during the application process—or those who become involved in supporting terrorism or organized crime—would face immediate revocation of their status.
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The Trump administration has signaled its full support for the measure, with Attorney General Pam Bondi reportedly reviewing the legal frameworks to accelerate these deportations.
“A nation that does not enforce its immigration laws cannot effectively protect its people,” Schmitt stated. “To secure our future, we must enforce our laws. The American people deserve no less.”
