President Donald Trump just handed Senate Republicans an ultimatum: Pass his election integrity bill \u2014 or forget about summer vacation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump turned up the heat on Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) Monday morning, demanding that senators remain in Washington until the SAVE America Act clears the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cJohn Thune should not allow the United States Senate to \u2018leave town\u2019 until it passes The Save America Act,\u201d Trump wrote on Truth Social.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The president said an even better option would be for Republicans to terminate the legislative filibuster, allowing the party to pass the election bill \u2014 along with its budget and debt-ceiling priorities \u2014 by a simple majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump warned that Democrats would scrap the 60-vote threshold themselves as soon as they regained power, adding, \u201cstupidity always brings LOSING & DEATH!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pressure campaign lands as senators return to Capitol Hill for their final two weeks of work before an extended August recess. The chamber is scheduled to leave after Aug. 7 and not return until Sept. 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump\u2019s gambit is clear: Force Thune to either keep senators in Washington or explain why Republicans went home with one of the president\u2019s biggest legislative priorities still collecting dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Trump-backed package would require documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and photo identification at the polls. The White House is also pushing restrictions on mail-in voting, with exceptions for illness, disability, military service and travel, according to its official summary of the legislation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The House passed its latest version of the measure last week after tying it to legislation banning members of Congress from trading stocks. The combined package passed 232-198, with 13 Democrats joining Republicans, The Daily Wire reported<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But the Senate remains the brick wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The legislation needs 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and Democrats have remained united against it. Thune says supporters are still well short of that mark \u2014 and he has repeatedly rejected Trump\u2019s demands to blow up Senate rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump is no longer alone in demanding that senators sacrifice their summer escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Senate doesn\u2019t need a summer vacation as much as the country needs the SAVE America Act. Let\u2019s cancel recess,\u201d Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) wrote on X over the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee later pledged to object to any attempt to send the Senate into recess before the bill passes and requested a recorded vote, according to Democracy Docket<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also drew a line in the sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI will vote to stay in session unless we have passed the SAVE America Act,\u201d Scott wrote on X. \u201cThe American people expect us to deliver. They deserve secure elections.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n