U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a roundtable discussion on college sports at the White House on March 6, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Nathan Howard | Reuters
President Donald Trump has threatened to hold off on signing legislation that reaches his desk until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a controversial election law that would make voting extremely difficult for many Americans.
“It has to be done now. It takes precedence over everything else. It has to go to the front lines,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Sunday. “As president, I will not sign any other legislation until this one passes.”
The SAVE America Act requires proof of citizenship and a photo ID to vote. The measure has been the subject of a significant pressure campaign from right-wing commentators and congressional Republicans.
The House passed the bill last month, but it falls short of the 60-vote majority needed to block a filibuster in the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and Democrats have expressed opposition. This has led some Republicans to call for breaking the filibuster, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) has so far resisted.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the threat of gridlock would not change Democrats’ position.
“If President Trump says he won’t sign any legislation until the SAVE Act is passed, then he’s right. There will be a complete deadlock in the Senate,” he said on X. “Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances.”
Trump also wrote that he asked Congress to introduce a strengthened version of the bill “not an inflated version.”
“Go for the gold: Must show voter ID and proof of citizenship: No mail-in voting except for military-related cases of illness, disability, travel, etc. No men in women’s sports. No transgender sexual abuse of children! Don’t fail!!!,” Trump added.
President Trump’s request would require the House to repass the SAVE America Act. The House has already passed two versions of the bill this session. That is far from certain, with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) effectively holding a one-vote majority in the House.
President Trump’s threat to block his signature also jeopardizes other must-pass legislation, including one to fund the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of the fiscal year. The department is currently closed after funding expired last month. Democrats are calling for new restrictions on Mr. Trump’s deportations after two American citizens were shot and killed by federal immigration agents.
Signature blockades can have a variety of consequences. President Trump can veto any bill sent to him and send it back to Congress, which can be overridden with a two-thirds majority in each chamber. If Congress is out of session, the president can leave the bill in place for 10 days and not pass it. This is a procedure known as a “pocket veto.”
However, unsigned bills that sit for 10 days while Congress is in session will automatically become law, so Congress may be able to overcome the signature block by remaining in session.
The clock is ticking for Republicans in the midst of tough midterm elections in November, with the possibility of Democrats regaining the majority in one or both chambers. The window for passage of Republicans and Trump’s legislative wish list is already narrowing, and polls show voters are dissatisfied with Trump and the economy ahead of the election.
An NBC News poll released Sunday found that 62% of voters disapprove of President Trump’s handling of inflation and the cost of living, the top issues for voters. The poll gave Democrats a 6-point lead in the general congressional vote.
