President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will not sign any legislation until the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act reaches his desk. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer responded by vowing that Democrats will block the bill, calling it 'Jim Crow 2.0' and warning of disenfranchisement. The bill, which passed the House in February, requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and limits mail-in voting options.
On Sunday morning, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, stating he would prioritize the SAVE Act, also known as the SAVE America Act by Republicans. He praised activist Scott Pressler for advocating a talking filibuster to force a Senate vote, describing the measure as 'an 88% issue with ALL VOTERS.' Trump emphasized, 'It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE,' and added, 'I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed.' He insisted on the full version without concessions, including requirements for voter ID and proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, and restrictions on mail-in ballots to military members or those affected by illness, disability, or travel. The bill would also mandate in-person registration for most voters, require Department of Homeland Security verification of registration data, direct states to review voter rolls for non-citizens, and impose criminal penalties on officials who register voters without proper documentation.
Hours later, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reacted on X, declaring, 'The SAVE Act is Jim Crow 2.0. It would disenfranchise tens of millions of people.' He vowed, '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. Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.' Schumer's opposition aligns with Democratic concerns that the requirements would prevent access for voters lacking documents.
A Harvard Harris poll conducted after Trump's State of the Union address showed 71% support for the SAVE Act and 81% for voter ID requirements generally, indicating broad voter approval across parties. The measure passed the House in February but faces challenges in the Senate, where Democrats hold influence. Trump also referenced unrelated issues in his post, such as bans on men in women's sports and transgender medical procedures for children, though these are not part of the SAVE Act.
