Trump Allies Accuse Thune of Blocking SAVE America Act From Defense Bill

House Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump are accusing Senate Majority Leader John Thune of deliberately excluding the SAVE America Act—a voter ID and proof-of-citizenship proposal—from the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The dispute highlights a growing rift within the GOP over how aggressively to pursue election law changes in must-pass legislation.

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At issue is whether Republican Senate leadership will attach the SAVE America Act to the NDAA, as Trump and his allies have demanded, or move forward without it, risking backlash from the party’s conservative base and the former president. The outcome could shape both election law and the internal balance of power in Congress.

The push to include the SAVE America Act in major legislation follows repeated calls from Trump to tie voter ID and citizenship requirements to must-pass bills. Trump has argued on Truth Social that, "Voter I.D., and Proof of Citizenship, must be approved, NOW. Crooked Mail-In Voting must be stopped!!! PUT IT ALL IN THE HOUSING AND FISA BILLS." Conservative lawmakers have echoed these demands, while some Senate Republicans warn that such tactics could jeopardize passage of critical legislation.

Accusations Against Thune

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., a vocal Trump ally, alleged on X that Thune is "actively working to try to block the SAVE AMERICA ACT" by drafting a Senate NDAA that omits the measure. Luna urged House Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx to file a manager’s amendment to force the act’s inclusion if the Senate sends over a version without it, saying, "This will now have to be done in conference."

House Republican staffers, speaking to The Daily Signal, described Thune as repeatedly defying calls to attach the SAVE America Act to must-pass bills. One source said, "Leader Thune has repeatedly defied the American people’s clear demand for the SAVE America Act. Instead of shrugging and saying he lacks the votes, he should attach it to every must-pass bill, including next week in the NDAA, and force Democrats into the hot seat."

A senior GOP House staffer speculated that Thune "has zero intention of putting the SAVE America Act in the NDAA" and accused Senate leadership of "hiding behind the excuses that he doesn’t have the votes." The staffer argued that failing to leverage the House’s position would be "political suicide" for Republicans.

"Senate Republicans shouldn’t fight harder to block the SAVE America Act than Democrats do. Americans would rather see Thune fight and lose than fail to fight at all."

— House Republican source, quoted by The Daily Signal

Thune and Chairwoman Foxx did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Signal.

Trump and Conservative Pressure

Trump has intensified his push for the SAVE America Act, calling for its passage by any means necessary, including abolishing the Senate filibuster. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "THE SAVE AMERICA ACT’S non-passage is CRAZY, and a serious threat to any politician who votes against it." He urged Republicans to "TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and pass this, and every other Bill that true Republicans have ever dreamt of."

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., echoed Trump’s frustration, criticizing Senate leadership for maintaining the 60-vote threshold. Scott argued on X that both parties use the filibuster to "control the chamber, control debate, and control the schedule," making it harder to advance controversial measures like the SAVE America Act. "If we want to secure our elections and pass the rest of the America First agenda, we’re going to need to shake some things up," Scott wrote.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., told The Daily Signal earlier this month that attaching the act to must-pass legislation "would put a death wish on it," suggesting that such a move could doom both the election bill and the NDAA.

Risks and Next Steps

Attaching the SAVE America Act to the NDAA or other major bills could complicate negotiations and threaten passage in the Senate, where Democrats and some Republicans oppose the measure or the process. The filibuster remains a significant barrier, with Senate rules requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation. Conservative critics argue that Republican leaders are using the filibuster as cover to avoid tough votes, while others warn that eliminating it could backfire if Democrats regain control.

House Republicans are considering procedural tactics to force the issue, including manager’s amendments and leveraging conference negotiations. The outcome of these maneuvers will determine whether the SAVE America Act advances or stalls in the current Congress. As of Thursday, neither Thune nor Foxx had publicly addressed the accusations or outlined their legislative strategy.

The dispute underscores broader tensions within the Republican Party over election law, legislative strategy, and the influence of Trump on congressional decision-making.