Donald Trump is panicking like never before, demanding Senate Republicans force through his election bill

At the State of the Union address, President Trump gave a direct order to Senator John Thune, pushing for quick action on the stalled SAVE America Act. This very public move signals an aggressive effort to push through legislation Trump says is vital for election security, even though the bill faces major obstacles in the Senate.

The SAVE America Act would require everyone to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, and would make photo ID a nationwide requirement for casting a ballot. It would also give the Department of Homeland Security access to states’ voter rolls, which would be a significant expansion of federal oversight over elections.

The House already passed the bill, mostly along party lines, but it has stalled in the Senate. According to The New York Times, Democrats are largely united in opposing it, and under the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster rule, the bill simply does not have enough support to move forward.

The filibuster fight puts Thune in a difficult spot between Trump’s demands and Senate norms

Despite the tough numbers, Trump, backed by Elon Musk and Nicki Minaj, is pressuring Senate Majority Leader Thune to force a “battle royale” on the Senate floor by pushing for a “talking filibuster.” This tactic would force opponents to continuously occupy the floor to block the bill.

Trump posted on social media last week, stating, “We are going to have the Save America Act, one way or the other, after approval by Congress through the very proper use of the Filibuster or, at minimum, by a Talking Filibuster.”

Thune has said he is open to discussing options for bringing the bill to the floor, including the talking filibuster. However, he is seen as someone who values Senate norms and has expressed concern that such a move could disrupt the party’s ability to pass other important legislation, particularly as Republicans want to focus on issues like affordability.

Trump has long dismissed concerns about Senate rules, and many of his allies are now openly arguing that passing this bill is their only way to hold onto Congress in the midterm elections. This push comes at a time when Trump’s approval ratings have been falling to concerning lows, adding more pressure on Republicans to deliver visible wins.

Trump’s push for the bill also connects to his repeated and widely debunked claims of widespread voter fraud. He has been pushing these claims again ahead of the November midterms, especially as polls suggest his leadership may be hurting Republicans in key races. He has focused heavily on groundless accusations that undocumented immigrants are voting for Democrats, claims that have been proven false.

Democrats are firmly opposed to the SAVE America Act, calling it a restrictive measure that could prevent millions of people from voting. They argue that many Americans lack the required documents or would be discouraged from trying to vote.

For example, women whose birth certificates or passports do not match their married names would face extra paperwork. Critics have also raised broader concerns about how Trump’s agenda is affecting vulnerable Americans, including working-class people and legal immigrants who may not have easy access to required documents.

While House Republicans have pushed the bill forward, passing a broader version this year after a narrower one last year, the Senate remains a much harder challenge. The votes are not there, and getting the SAVE America Act through the Senate looks like a steep uphill battle despite Trump’s direct pressure and high-profile support.