Trump scraps housing bill signing to pressure Senate GOP on SAVE Act

President Trump has once again employed a familiar tactic, derailing a major housing bill that had passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support. The White House had prepared for a signing ceremony, with lawmakers gathered on Capitol Hill, only for Trump to announce via social media that he would not sign the legislation. His demand is for the Senate and House to send him the SAVE America Act, a voting reform bill that faces significant hurdles, particularly in the Senate due to the filibuster.

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They were shocked, I mean, dumbfounded.

This move has left Republican senators reportedly shocked and dumbfounded. The housing bill, which secured 85 votes in the Senate and nearly 400 in the House, was expected to be signed into law. Trump's decision to block it introduces a new point of leverage in his push for the SAVE Act, a bill with virtually no chance of passing either chamber at this point.

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As you mentioned, the president has done this a lot lately where he has blindsided Republican leaders. But a signing ceremony usually happens at the White House. This one was set up in the Capitol Building itself here in what's known as Statuary Hall. They had a stage set up. They had the presidential emblem there, a desk for him to sign it.

Adding to the drama, Trump proceeded to attend a scheduled lunch meeting with Senate Republicans immediately after the planned signing ceremony. Sources indicate the meeting devolved into an argument, primarily between Trump and Senator Bill Cassidy over the Iran war. The president reportedly did not open the floor for questions regarding the SAVE America Act or his decision to block the bipartisan housing bill, leaving many lawmakers blindsided by his actions.

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And just about an hour before he was supposed to leave for the Capitol, he put this message on TRUTH Social, saying that he wasn't going to sign it into law until the Senate and the House sent him, as you mentioned, the SAVE America Act, which is legislation that has virtually no chance of passing either chamber, frankly, at this point, but especially in the Senate, where the filibuster exists.