'Adopt a budget resolution': Trump pressures Thune to act before August recess

WASHINGTON, DC: A day after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said President Trump's patience was running out over the SAVE America Act delay, the president escalated pressure on the Senate.

The House’s adoption of the budget resolution marks the first step toward a third reconciliation bill that would fund defense and intelligence, agriculture aid, and Trump-backed election integrity initiatives.

Trump urges Senate to pass budget quickly

President Donald Trump on Friday, July 24, urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to quickly take up the House-passed budget resolution, ramping up pressure on the Senate GOP leader after Thune said he doesn't have the 50 votes needed to pass the measure.

“I am asking that the Senate adopt a Budget Resolution, which can pass with a simple Majority, before leaving for the August recess. We are ready to work side-by-side with the Senate to get this done for the American People!” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump's call came a day after Thune said he doesn't have the 50 votes needed to pass the House-approved $95 billion budget resolution, which includes funding for the Pentagon and intelligence agencies, aid for farmers, and Trump-backed election reforms.

“As I’ve said before, you got to get to 50, and I can’t count to 50 right now on a budget resolution,” Thune said when asked about how the Senate would handle the House-passed budget framework.

“We’ll see. We’ll have those conversations with the conference. The priority is funding the government. To me, that’s the thing we got to keep our eyes on,” he said.

Tension between WH and John Thune escalates over SAVE Act

During the press conference on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the president’s patience was wearing thin over the SAVE America Act delay.

"His patience is RUNNING OUT. He wants to see as much of the SAVE America Act passed as possible by the August recess,” Karoline Leavitt said during Thursday’s briefing.

Leavitt said that Americans want voter IDs “because voter ID is common sense. They want proof of citizenship in our election.”

“Maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes. Right? It’s 50 around here,” Thune shot back.

“Instead of pointing the finger at Republicans, they might think about going after the people who are stopping it on the floor, which is the Democrats,” Thune added. “And if there are Republicans they think are gettable, get on the phone.”

Thune told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to “hold” the House-passed budget framework in the Senate to use as a potential vehicle to advance a government funding stopgap in September.