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However, passing most legislation in the Senate requires overcoming the legislative filibuster—a procedural hurdle that typically demands 60 votes to advance a bill to final passage.
Thune indicated that he is unwilling to pursue dramatic rule changes simply to move the measure forward.
Lip Service or Real Support?
While rejecting rule changes, Thune insisted he still intends to bring some version of the proposal forward.
“The president clearly is very interested in getting the SAVE America bill up and voted on, although he wants a modified version of it, and so we’ll do our best to do that,” Thune said.
Still, he cautioned that he cannot guarantee success.
“But the one thing I’ve said all along is, and I’ve told him and others, that I can’t guarantee an outcome. I can’t guarantee a result. If the result is only achieved by nuking the legislative filibuster, we don’t have the votes to do that and so that’s not a — that’s just not a realistic option.”
The remarks reflect the political reality facing Senate Republicans. Even with a majority, eliminating the filibuster or significantly weakening it would require broad support within the conference—support that does not currently exist.
Trump Turns Up the Pressure
Trump, however, has been intensifying his push for the legislation.
In a fiery message posted to his social media platform, the former president urged Republican lawmakers to make the bill their top priority and warned that he would block other legislation until it reaches his desk.
“Great Job by hard working Scott Pressler on Fox & Friends talking about using the Filibuster, or Talking Filibuster, in order to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT, an 88% issue with ALL VOTERS. It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE.
“I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION – GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY – ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL: NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!”
Trump also floated the idea of using a “talking filibuster”—a tactic in which senators must continuously hold the floor to block legislation—as a possible workaround to the traditional filibuster rules.
Senate Time Is Limited, Thune Says
Thune appeared skeptical of that strategy as well.
According to reporting from ABC News, the Senate leader warned that forcing a vote through a prolonged talking filibuster could drag on for weeks and tie up valuable time on the Senate floor.
“Our time in the Senate is a finite resource and it’s something that we need to use wisely and well to get as much done as we can,” Thune said.
The comments suggest that leadership is prioritizing the broader legislative calendar rather than dedicating weeks to a single procedural battle.
GOP Divisions Surface
The disagreement also exposes a deeper divide among Senate Republicans.
Last month, Thune acknowledged that members of the GOP conference remain split on whether pursuing a talking filibuster strategy is the right path forward.
Some senators fear weakening Senate rules could ultimately backfire, especially if Democrats regain control of the chamber in the future.
Others, particularly those closely aligned with Trump’s political base, argue that aggressive tactics are necessary to deliver on key campaign promises.
Tensions Extend Beyond Election Legislation
The friction between Trump and Senate leadership is not limited to the SAVE America Act.
Earlier this year, Thune also introduced a procedural approach that would prevent the president from making recess appointments during the Senate’s August break.
Under the U.S. Constitution, a president can temporarily fill federal positions through recess appointments when the Senate is formally out of session. These appointments allow officials to serve without immediate Senate confirmation until the next session of Congress ends.
However, the Senate can prevent this by holding “pro forma” sessions—brief meetings where little or no official business is conducted. When these sessions occur, the Senate is technically still in session, which blocks the president from making recess appointments.
By keeping the chamber technically open during the break, the Senate leadership can limit the executive branch’s ability to bypass the confirmation process.
A Growing Power Struggle
Taken together, the disputes underscore the ongoing tug-of-war between Trump’s populist wing of the Republican Party and the more traditional Senate leadership.
With election integrity becoming a central issue heading toward the next election cycle, the fate of the SAVE America Act could become a defining test of how far Senate Republicans are willing to go to push Trump-backed priorities through Congress.
Whether the bill ultimately advances—or stalls amid procedural roadblocks—may signal how unified the GOP truly is as the political stakes continue to rise.
