President Donald Trump will meet with Senate Republicans on Wednesday at a weekly luncheon hosted by Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., as the party works to bridge differences over the stalled SAVE America Act and other legislative priorities before the November midterm elections.
Scott invited the president during a phone call Friday, he told The New York Times. “I just bring people to lunch and create a conversation, and I think there’s a greater chance something good will happen,” Scott said.
In a memo to colleagues reported by USA Today, Scott said he hopes the meeting will include “robust conversations” about “how we should spend our time between now and the November elections.” He told the Times he expects the group to discuss avoiding a government shutdown in September, and said Trump “continues to want to pass the SAVE America Act, and there’s other issues — cost of living, stuff like that.”
The SAVE America Act, a priority for Trump for months, would require voters to prove their citizenship before registering to vote. Critics say it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. The bill has failed to gain sufficient support in the Senate.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday in Reading, Pennsylvania, Trump said the election bill would be his main focus at the meeting. “Well, we’re just going to talk about SAVE America,” he said. “We have to pass it. So we’re going to have to talk about that, and many other things.”
When asked about Senate Republican leader John Thune’s assessment that the legislation lacks the votes to pass, Trump suggested Thune could deliver. “That’s what being a leader is about,” Trump said. “John is a leader, and hopefully he can get the votes.”
Thune, R-S.D., responded to reporters by acknowledging the political pressure from the White House. “I appreciate that it’s his prerogative to communicate how he wants to communicate, but at the end of the day, I have to deal with reality,” Thune said. “And sometimes the alternative universe that is X doesn’t reflect the facts on the ground.”
Thune said he hopes other senators will also speak up about the bill’s prospects. “Our conference is pretty well aware and conscious of where the votes are on these issues and so, yes, it is always helpful if others would speak up and it’s not just me,” he said. “I’ve made that point many times, but it is always good to have it reinforced by others.”
Co-sponsor Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said Monday, “It doesn’t have the votes, and so it’s time to talk about something else.”
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, continued to press the issue on social media, posting on X: “At tomorrow’s meeting between President Trump and Senate Republicans, do you want your senators to advocate (1) FOR, or (2) AGAINST trying to pass the SAVE America Act?”
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday on Capitol Hill.