'Get on phone and get votes': Thune challenges Leavitt over SAVE Act after her patience remark

WASHINGTON, DC: Moments after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during the press briefing that President Donald Trump is apparently running out of patience with Senate Majority Leader John Thune over the SAVE Act delay, Thune responded to her. 

John Thune hit back at Karoline Leavitt’s quip when he was asked about Leavitt’s remark.

John Thune rejects Karoline Leavitt's criticism over SAVE Act

“Maybe she or somebody else ought to get on the phone and get the votes. Right? It’s 50 around here,” Thune shot back when asked about Leavitt’s statement to reporters at a press briefing on Thursday, July 23.

“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,” the senator added, appearing somewhat irritated by the critical comment.

“And if there are Republicans they think are gettable, get on the phone,” he said.

Leavitt said President Donald Trump's patience with the Senate's handling of the SAVE America Act is "running out," after the legislation failed to advance despite multiple votes in the chamber.

The remarks come as Trump intensifies his push to pass the election bill before the August recess. The legislation would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification when casting ballots.

Karoline Leavitt says Trump demands SAVE Act before recess

“The president spoke about this directly yesterday,” she told reporters. “His patience is running out.

“He wants to see as much of the SAVE America Act passed as possible by the August recess. He knows that’s what the American people want to see passed," she continued.

"He was just traveling on the road yesterday, spoke about this, and there was a very loud applause from the people in the audience, the everyday Americans, because voter ID is common sense,” Leavitt added.

“They want proof of citizenship in our elections, and the president feels very strongly about that. The House did its job, the Senate needs to do its job too,” she added.

Trump, earlier, pushed GOP lawmakers to fold aspects of the SAVE Act into the budget bill and get that passed.

“I am asking all House Republicans to VOTE YES this week on the Budget Resolution, which is an important first step towards getting a Budget Bill,” Trump wrote on social media on Monday, July 20.

In his post, Trump also pushed for aspects of the SAVE America Act to be packaged in the budget bill.

“We need Voter Photo ID (Identification!), Proof of Citizenship and, hopefully, No Corrupt Mail In Ballots (except for illness, disability, Military, or travel),” Trump wrote.