Trump declines to back Thune for another term, cites SAVE Act frustration

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump's frustration with the persistent delay of the SAVE Act may have jeopardized Senate Majority Leader John Thune's career, as the president has refused to back Thune for another term.

Friction between John Thune and Trump grew stronger after Trump asked the Senate majority leader to cancel the recess and clear the SAVE Act, but Thune refused, saying senators need to be around voters before midterms.

Trump decides to pull support from John Thune over SAVE Act

In an interview with Punchbowl News on Thursday, August 6, Trump gave a mixed response when asked about John Thune, expressing his frustration with congressional Republicans for not being able to pass the SAVE Act.

The SAVE Act aims to make it mandatory for voters in America to prove their citizenship before registering for the voter list. It also mandates a photo ID at the polling station for in-person voting in federal elections.

“I don’t want to get into that necessarily,” Trump said when asked whether Thune would get another term.

Trump said although he gets along with Thune, he is frustrated Thune can’t get the votes to pass the legislation.

“I get along with him. It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t have the votes,” he said.

He added, “John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that. But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate.”

Trump wants filibuster to  be eliminated

During the interview, Trump advocated for the elimination of the filibuster, saying that once it is gone, the SAVE Act would be cleared immediately.

"I believe strongly in terminating the filibuster, and by the way, getting the SAVE America Act approved immediately, and about 400 other things in every hour of every day,” he said.

Notably, Thune was opposed to the idea of getting rid of the filibuster.

Trump has repeatedly argued that whichever party eliminates the filibuster would rule in America. Trump also predicted that Democrats would scrap the system if they got control of Congress in the midterms.

“If they get in, they’re going to do it very quickly,” he said. “I would do it whether they did it or not. We would get in the next two and a half years; we would get things that nobody ever dreamt of. We would be in office for the next hundred years.”

The president also expressed doubt about Republicans’ prospects in the midterms, saying Republicans may not be motivated to vote because he’s not running.

“If I [am not running], will those people go out and vote? And that’s the one thing I can’t do. I’m going to ask them to. … The question is, will they vote? Because a lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you. … They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me,” he said.