President Donald Trump called on Republican lawmakers to eliminate the Senate filibuster and quickly approve the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, arguing the combination would reshape future elections in the Republican Party’s favor.
Speaking Friday at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Trump claimed the party could secure long-term electoral success if Congress acted on his priorities. He tied his message to warnings about what he described as growing communist influence in the United States.
“America will never be a communist country. We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms, if we are foolish, stupid and unwise,” Trump said. “But if we terminate the filibuster as we should do and immediately vote for the SAVE America Act, then we will not lose an election for 100 years.”
Trump has spent months urging Senate Republicans to remove the filibuster, a procedural rule that typically requires 60 votes to advance most legislation. His push has exposed divisions within the party, where several Republican senators have resisted changing the rule.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has publicly dismissed the idea, saying the support needed for such a move does not exist.
“The votes aren’t there, one, to nuke the filibuster, and the votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster,” Thune said.
Along with ending the filibuster, Trump pressed Congress to approve the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, commonly known as the SAVE Act. The legislation would require people registering to vote to present proof of U.S. citizenship in person.
“We do that, we’re not going to lose an election for 100 years,” Trump said before turning to broader remarks about communism.
His comments came as some conservative voices have intensified criticism of democratic socialist candidates following recent primary victories. Trump and other allies have frequently described those candidates as “communist,” despite the two political ideologies being distinct.
Trump continued that argument during his speech.
“The Communist Party is made up of illegal immigrants, criminals, and everybody that doesn’t want to work. Communism is a loser. It always was, and it is right now,” Trump said. “It’s a big loser. Look at the people that are promoting it. They are not the people you’re going to follow.”
The speech underscored Trump’s continued focus on election policy and Senate procedure as key priorities for the Republican agenda heading into future congressional battles.
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