Trump pressures Thune on voting legislation
Trump has repeatedly pressed Thune to eliminate the filibuster and push through the proof-of-citizenship measure, known as the SAVE America Act. Thune has told the president both publicly and privately that there is insufficient support within the Senate for either move. Trump, however, has continued to apply pressure.
In a social media post on Thursday, Trump warned that he would be “the last Republican president” if the legislation failed. “Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Senate, must not let this carnage happen,” Trump wrote. “They will go down on the wrong side of History, as will all Republicans who just stood by and watched.”
Despite the disagreement, Trump has refrained from directing personal attacks at Thune, unlike his frequent criticism of Thune’s predecessor Senator Mitch McConnell, whom he once described as a “dour, sullen, and unsmiling political hack”.
Trump and Thune continue to speak regularly, even when the Senate leader is delivering unwelcome news about legislative realities.
As pressure mounted over the voting Bill, Thune dedicated weeks of Senate floor time to debating the proposal, seeking to demonstrate support for the measure despite the lack of votes required for passage.
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