Trump Demands Voting Bill, Threatens Legislative Gridlock

Trump told House Republicans at their Florida retreat that toughening voting laws, despite scant evidence of noncitizen voting, is his top priority to "guarantee the midterms." The proposed SAVE America Act, already approved by the House, requires proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID for casting ballots; Trump demands an additional ban on mail-in ballots, with exceptions for disabled or military voters. Voting experts state this bill could disenfranchise 20 million American voters lacking readily available documents, a number that would increase with a mail-in ballot ban.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune expressed skepticism about using a "talking filibuster" to bypass Democratic opposition, which Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called a "thug" tactic. This demand comes as the GOP-controlled Congress faces headwinds in upcoming midterms and an immediate need to fund the Department of Homeland Security.