Tillis urges Trump to drop voting bill push, says GOP should stop 'undermining' elections

WASHINGTON, DC: Sen Thom Tillis has publicly broken with President Donald Trump over the White House's aggressive push to pass the SAVE America Act, arguing Republicans should abandon the election proposal and instead focus on defending their governing record before November's midterm elections.

Speaking on Sunday, June 28, on CNN, the retiring North Carolina Republican called implementation of Trump's signature voting legislation an "impossible task" before election day and warned that continued debate over election laws risks damaging public confidence rather than helping the GOP at the ballot box.

The latest disagreement marks another high-profile split between Tillis and Trump as the president continues making the SAVE America Act his top legislative priority.

Trump has repeatedly demanded Congress approve the bill, even postponing a bipartisan housing bill signing ceremony to pressure lawmakers into advancing the measure.

Thom Tillis questions election strategy

"Why are we doing more things to undermine our confidence in elections, rather than getting the strong message out that will win for Republicans this year?" Tillis said.

Instead of centering the campaign on election legislation, Tillis urged Republicans to campaign on their policy achievements and warn voters about what he described as the growing influence of Democratic socialists.

He argued that the party should accept existing election rules for this cycle and concentrate on defeating Democrats rather than pursuing changes that cannot realistically be implemented before November.

Trump keeps pressure on Congress

Trump has repeatedly described the SAVE America Act as his top domestic priority ahead of the midterms. The proposal would require voter identification at polling places while significantly tightening rules governing mail-in voting.

Democrats have strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that it could make voting more difficult for millions of eligible Americans. Republican leaders have also acknowledged privately that the proposal currently lacks sufficient support to pass Congress.

Although Tillis co-sponsored an earlier version of the legislation, he has objected to Trump's expanded proposal, which also includes provisions involving transgender athletes.

Rift widens inside GOP

The disagreement adds to a growing list of public clashes between Tillis and the Trump administration during the president's second term.

Earlier this year, Tillis opposed Trump's Federal Reserve leadership plans, criticized the Justice Department's Anti-Weaponization Fund, and questioned the appointment of interim intelligence officials.

He concluded that Republicans should stop creating unnecessary distractions and instead focus on preventing Democrats from regaining congressional majorities.

As internal divisions over election policy become increasingly public, Tillis' remarks underscore the broader debate within the Republican Party over whether Trump's election-centered strategy is the strongest path heading into the 2026 midterms.