Mike Lee nukes 'paranoid' Meryl Streep's SAVE Act warnings as 'fantasy': 'Not a scintilla of truth'

'She delivered those lines flawlessly as she does in all of her movies. But the lines aren't true. The lines are a paranoid fantasy!' Mike Lee said
Senator Mike Lee dismissed Meryl Streep's 'SAVE Act' claims as a 'paranoid fantasy', saying they lacked any truth (Getty Images)
Senator Mike Lee dismissed Meryl Streep's 'SAVE Act' claims as a 'paranoid fantasy', saying they lacked any truth (Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Sen Mike Lee forcefully pushed back against comments made by actress Meryl Streep on the 'SAVE America Act', dismissing her claims as completely detached from reality as he spoke to Fox News.

In a sharp response, Lee, on Saturday, April 4, said the narrative being circulated about the bill, particularly its alleged impact on married women, was not just misleading but entirely fabricated, even as he acknowledged Streep’s stature as a performer.



Mike Lee tears into Meryl Streep's 'fictional' claims

Lee did not hold back as he addressed Streep’s remarks, opening with a biting comparison: “Look, that is as FICTIONAL as every single movie she’s ever starred in!”

He quickly softened the tone on a personal level, adding, “She is a phenomenal actor, and I have immense respect for her.”

But the senator returned to his central argument, insisting that while the delivery may have been compelling, the substance was not.

“She delivered those lines flawlessly as she does in all of her movies. But the lines aren’t true. The lines are a paranoid fantasy!” he added.

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 12:  U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) speaks during Supreme Court Justice nominee
Sen Mike Lee (R-UT) speaks during Supreme Court Justice nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett's Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice in the Hart Senate Office Building on October 12, 2020, in Washington, DC (Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images)

Lee went on to question how such claims gained traction in the first place.

“She’s mistaken there. I don’t know who has told her this. I don’t know whether she was put up to it,” he said, before flatly rejecting the premise behind her concerns.

“There’s not a scintilla of truth to them,” Lee continued, arguing that the legislation is designed with the opposite intent.

“Look, the fact is that we make it really easy to vote and hard to cheat under the SAVE America Act. It couldn’t be easier to vote under the SAVE America Act,” he said.



He also broadened his criticism to the wider opposition surrounding the bill, saying, “That’s why every argument Democrats make against the Save America Act is contrived. You peel it back. It cannot withstand review against the backdrop of what the bill actually says.”

Meryl Streep speaks against 'SAVE America Act'

The clash stems from comments Streep made during an appearance on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', where she raised concerns about how the legislation could affect women who have changed their names after marriage.

“The Save America Act, if that passes, all the married women who have changed their names are going to have to go to the registrar and prove that they are who they are,” Streep said, explaining her understanding of the bill.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 01: Meryl Streep seen at 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' in Midtown in Midtown on April 01, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images)
Meryl Streep seen at 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' in Midtown on April 01, 2026, in New York City (Aeon/GC Images)

She elaborated further, warning of potential complications at the ballot box, adding, “Otherwise, when you get to the voting booth in November, you might be disqualified because your name doesn’t match your name on the voting rolls.”

Framing it as both an inconvenience and a risk, she added, “This is such a pain in the neck but do it. Because otherwise, you’ll be turned away,” before concluding with a broader appeal, saying, “I think that women need to be heard, especially at this moment.”

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Abdul El-Sayed publicly praised Senator Chris Van Hollen as an ideal replacement, saying he would make an excellent majority leader
12 minutes ago
Donald Trump signals support for DOJ action after Senator Rand Paul moves a criminal contempt referral against Anthony Fauci
1 hour ago
One order expanded limits on birthright citizenship for some diplomats' children, while another targeted birth tourism with new rules
6 hours ago
The holdings included a golden share in US Steel, a $400M stake in MP Materials, and an $8.9 billion Intel stake via CHIPS funding
7 hours ago
President Donald Trump dismissed reports of internal tensions while doubling down on his support for the Pentagon chief
7 hours ago
A survey results showed 57% of Americans viewed affordability as a full-blown crisis, highlighting it remained a top issue for voters
8 hours ago
Abdul El-Sayed earned a medical degree, received an Oxford public health doctorate, taught epidemiology at Columbia, and then led Detroit Health
9 hours ago
BBC sought financial records for about 400 Trump-linked entities after he claimed its 2024 documentary damaged his 'brand, properties and businesses'
9 hours ago
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, August 4, advanced Todd Blanche’s nomination, marking a decisive step closer to his assuming the post of AG
11 hours ago
Trump's warning came after reports claimed he sought answers from Pete Hegseth over alleged weapons shortages
11 hours ago