President Donald Trump abruptly halted plans to sign bipartisan housing legislation this week, tying his approval of the bill to the passage of a contentious voting restrictions measure, intensifying divisions within the Republican Party as the November midterm elections approach.
On Wednesday, Trump canceled his scheduled signing of the bipartisan housing bill, which had cleared both chambers of Congress, declaring that he would not act on the legislation until lawmakers advance the SAVE America Act. The act, which Trump strongly supports, includes stringent voter eligibility requirements such as proof of citizenship for voter registration and other tightened voting rules. While viewed by Trump as essential for Republican electoral success, the legislation has faced opposition from all Senate Democrats and a faction of Republicans, leaving it without the 60 votes necessary to overcome the Senate filibuster.
The White House’s stance sparked frustration among GOP senators during a lunch meeting called to discuss the SAVE America Act. According to attendees, Trump dominated the more than hourlong session, pivoting the conversation sharply to the ongoing conflict with Iran. The meeting devolved into a heated confrontation with Senator Bill Cassidy (R., La.), one of Trump’s prominent critics on the issue of war powers. Cassidy had recently voted in favor of a nonbinding Senate resolution aimed at curbing the president’s authority to conduct military operations against Iran, aligning with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R., Alaska), Susan Collins (R., Maine), Rand Paul (R., Ky.), and the Democratic caucus.
During the encounter, Trump reportedly shouted at Cassidy, labeling him a “loser” after the senator’s recent primary defeat, and told him to “sit down.” Cassidy retorted firmly, refusing to be silenced. He later acknowledged losing his temper but defended his stance, emphasizing the lack of transparency from the administration on the duration and objectives of the Iran operations. Trump also criticized Murkowski and Paul for supporting the resolution.
The dispute comes amid ongoing tensions over U.S. policy toward Iran. Last week, Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iranian officials to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz and initiate negotiations to limit Tehran’s nuclear program, while signaling acceptance that Iran could retain some ballistic missile capabilities—a position that complicates Republican efforts to present a unified front on the conflict.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R., S.D.), whom Trump has pressed to drum up support for the SAVE America Act, reaffirmed after the meeting that the session had not yielded concrete solutions but allowed for airing of grievances. Thune has rejected Trump’s calls to eliminate the filibuster, underscoring the legislative impasse regarding the voting bill.
Trump’s insistence on linking approval of the housing bill to the SAVE America Act has heightened concerns among Republican lawmakers, many of whom argue the party should prioritize withdrawing from the Iran conflict and focusing on economic issues to bolster electoral prospects. With Republicans holding a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, internal divisions over both foreign policy and election laws present significant challenges as the midterms draw near.