Trump urges Thune to fire Senate parliamentarian over voting bill setback

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, June 8, intensified his pressure campaign against Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, urging Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remove her from the post after she ruled that the SAVE America Act could not be advanced through the budget reconciliation process.

The legislation, a Republican-backed voting measure, would require proof of US citizenship to register to vote and a photo ID to cast a ballot.

Taking to Truth Social, Trump accused MacDonough of unfairly obstructing Republican priorities and called for her immediate dismissal.

“Senate Majority Leader John Thune should immediately fire the parliamentarian, who treats Republicans and everything they stand for horribly!” Trump wrote.

SAVE America Act blocked by Senate rules

MacDonough recently determined that the SAVE America Act does not comply with the Senate’s Byrd Rule, which governs what provisions can be included in budget reconciliation legislation.

Measures that fail the Byrd Rule cannot be passed through reconciliation, a process that allows legislation to clear the Senate with a simple majority rather than the usual 60-vote threshold.

Trump argued that the ruling was unjustified and claimed the parliamentarian had prevented Republicans from advancing a proposal that should have easily won approval.

“Just the other night, as an example, she ruled against us on a proposal that would have easily been approved, and should have been, by anyone else,” he posted. 

“We have every right to change her, and should do so, IMMEDIATELY. As long as she’s there, we will never get our desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, approved, and put into full force and effect!” he added.

Senate votes fall short

Following MacDonough’s ruling, Sens Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee sought to waive budgetary objections and attach the measure to the reconciliation package. However, both efforts failed to secure the 60 votes required for approval.

Four Republicans, Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis, voted against Graham’s initial motion to suspend the Senate’s budget rules, highlighting divisions within the GOP conference.

John Thune pushes back as Trump renews criticism

Thune has repeatedly resisted calls to remove the parliamentarian, arguing that doing so could undermine Senate traditions and complicate efforts to manage the chamber.

“That’s, I guess, his opinion. But that would create even more vote issues here if we were to try and do something like that,” Thune said previously.

Trump also revived criticism of MacDonough’s appointment, writing on Monday: “She was put there by then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Barack Hussein Obama, need I say more? She is a nasty holdover from Mitch McConnell (A man who has proven to be very disloyal to John Thune!)”