President Donald Trump on Monday argued that passing the SAVE America Act could help Republicans secure victories in the upcoming fall midterm elections, while strongly criticizing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for opposing the voter ID legislation.
Speaking at a House Republican retreat in Miami, Trump sharply attacked Schumer (D-NY), who has pledged that Senate Democrats will not support the bill. The proposed legislation would require Americans to present proof of citizenship when registering to vote and show photo identification when casting their ballots.
“What a horrible politician,” Trump said of Schumer.
“He is now a Palestinian. Officially, he is registered as a Palestinian,” the president joked during his remarks.
The Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act was approved by the House of Representatives last month. Every Republican lawmaker supported the bill, along with one Democrat.
Trump praised House Republicans for advancing what he described as a “common sense measure.” He emphasized that voter ID laws enjoy broad public support, citing polling that shows strong backing for such requirements.
“This is not complicated: voter identification,” the president said.
Despite its passage in the House, the SAVE America Act faces significant hurdles in the Senate. The bill would need 60 votes to pass, but Republicans currently hold only 53 seats.
Trump suggested that Democratic opposition to the bill stems from concerns that stricter voting requirements could make it harder for them to win future elections.
“They’re doing everything possible because they know if we get this, they probably won’t win an election for 50 years,” the president argued. “Maybe longer.”
Trump predicted that Democrats would strongly resist the measure.
Democrats are going to “fight like hell,” opposing the SAVE America Act, Trump noted, “but boy, do they get killed.”
The president also pointed to polling he claims shows strong bipartisan support for voter identification laws, including among Democratic voters.
“Democrats are at 86%, except for the people that run the Democrat Party, because they want to try and win elections illegally,” he claimed. “It’s the only reason you vote against voter ID – because you want to cheat.”
Trump has also indicated that passing the SAVE America Act is a major priority for him. On Sunday, he vowed that he would “not sign other Bills until this is passed.”
When asked during a press conference Monday whether he would refuse to sign legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security or approving Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) as DHS secretary if the SAVE America Act does not pass, the president declined to give a direct answer.
Meanwhile, Schumer has strongly criticized the legislation, referring to it as “Jim Crow 2.0.” He argues the bill would suppress voting rights and prevent millions of Americans from participating in elections.
“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,” he warned. “Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.”
