Trump, Thune clash over canceling August recess to debate SAVE America Act - The Hill

What the report says

The Hill reported that President Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune clashed Monday over Trump’s push to cancel the Senate’s five-week August recess so Republicans can continue trying to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE America Act. Trump has made the election bill his top legislative priority and urged Thune on Truth Social not to let senators leave Washington unless they pass it — or, preferably in Trump’s view, end the filibuster so the GOP can move its agenda with a simple majority.

Thune rejected the idea that staying in session would necessarily produce a result, saying the proposal has already been brought up repeatedly and lacks the votes needed to overcome Senate rules. He also said Trump has been told directly by GOP senators that there is not enough support within the conference to abolish the legislative filibuster. Thune suggested he would consider canceling recess only if there were legislation the chamber could realistically finish.

The dispute has exposed a broader Republican split. Sens. Mike Lee, Rick Scott, Ashley Moody and Jim Banks pressed to keep the Senate in session, while Sens. John Cornyn and Thom Tillis warned that doing so could hurt Republicans politically by keeping vulnerable incumbents away from their states ahead of the November election. Thune also pointed to senators such as Susan Collins, Jon Husted and Dan Sullivan as members who need time at home.

According to The Hill, the SAVE America Act would tighten voting rules, including proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration, photo ID for voting and limits on mail-in ballots. The bill has no Democratic Senate support, and four Republicans opposed a version tied to a June budget package, leaving it short of passage under current rules.