'If you're that weak, you don't need to be a senator': Comer slams GOP holdouts on SAVE Act

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep James Comer (R-KY) questioned Republican senators who have hesitated to back the SAVE America Act, asking whether they were "that weak" if they feared supporting voter identification requirements ahead of future elections.

Speaking on Fox News on Sunday, July 5, Comer expressed frustration over the bill's continued lack of progress in the Senate despite strong backing from President Donald Trump. His remarks came one day after Trump used his America 250 address to again urge Congress to pass the legislation.

Comer questions Senate Republicans over lack of votes

On the legislation's prospects in the Senate, Comer said Republican leaders have indicated they currently lack sufficient support to move the bill forward. "All that I'm hearing from the Senate leadership is that they don't have the votes. Not only do they not have 60 votes, but they also don't have 50 votes, which I don't believe that," Comer said.

He then questioned senators who, he said, worry that supporting the measure could hurt their reelection chances.

"Some of these Republicans say, we can't vote for that because we could lose our election. I mean, are you that weak? That's my question to any Republican senator that's up for that. Are you that weak that if you vote for a valid ID to be shown to vote, you're gonna get beat in your home state?" Comer said.

He added, "I mean, if you're that weak, you don't need to be a United States senator."

The legislation has already cleared the House but has repeatedly stalled in the Senate. Last month, Republican Senators Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, and Mitch McConnell joined Democrats in voting against advancing the bill. The act would require proof of US citizenship and voter identification for federal elections while placing new limits on mail-in voting.

Comments follow Trump's renewed push for the SAVE Act

Comer's criticism came a day after Trump made election rules a central theme of his America 250 speech on the National Mall. During the address, Trump argued that requiring proof of citizenship would strengthen confidence in US elections.

"All voters must provide a little thing called proof of citizenship, and there will be no mail-in ballots, except for illness, disability, military deployment, or travel, and you won't have cheating on the elections anymore," Trump told the crowd.

Trump also urged Senate Republicans to pass the measure, saying election safeguards should be strengthened before the 2026 midterm elections.

Comer echoed that message, saying he hoped senators could reach an agreement on legislation that would bolster public confidence in elections. "I hope that the Senate will get it together and figure out something that we can pass to give the American people confidence in the integrity of the elections," he said.