Trump vows SAVE Act would keep Republicans from losing elections for a '100 years'

KEYSTONE, SOUTH DAKOTA: President Donald Trump argued on Friday, July 3, that Republicans could avoid electoral defeats for the next century if Congress passes the SAVE Act, using his Mount Rushmore speech to renew calls for the legislation.

Trump argued the legislation was essential to securing the Republican Party's electoral future and renewed his call to eliminate the Senate filibuster to pass it, saying that Republicans risked only "allowing" themselves to lose future elections if they failed to act. 

Trump says SAVE Act would secure Republican victories for '100 years'

Addressing supporters during the Independence Day celebration, Trump framed the SAVE Act as critical to both the upcoming midterm elections and the Republican Party's long-term electoral prospects. "We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms, if we are foolish, stupid, and unwise," Trump said.

He then urged Senate Republicans to abolish the filibuster to move the legislation forward. "But if we terminate the filibuster, as we should do, and immediately vote for the Save America Act, then we will not lose an election for a hundred years. We do that, we're not gonna lose an election for a hundred years," Trump said.

The president also criticized Democrats during the same remarks, adding, "The Communist Party is made up of illegal immigrants, criminals, and everybody that doesn't want to work."

Trump has previously described the SAVE Act as legislation requiring voter identification with a photo, proof of citizenship and restrictions on mail-in voting, while allowing exceptions for members of the military and voters affected by illness, disability or travel.

Trump renews SAVE Act push after warning Republicans against inaction

Just hours before his speech, Trump made the same argument in a Truth Social post directed at Senate Republicans, urging them to move quickly on the SAVE Act.

"Republicans, look what I just found!" Trump wrote, warning that Democrats would "Terminate the filibuster if they ever take power, and expand the Supreme Court."

Trump linked a Politico report, in his post, detailing a resolution introduced by several House Democratic caucus leaders that proposes expanding the Supreme Court, imposing term limits and a code of ethics for justices, and eliminating the Senate's 60-vote filibuster.

Arguing that Republicans should respond by advancing election legislation, Trump wrote, "The Republican Party will never win another Election." He added, "How much longer are you going to allow this to happen to you?" before warning, "They will terminate the filibuster in their first hour, and I'll be sitting home with tears in my eyes saying, 'I told you so!'"

The resolution cited in Trump's post was introduced by leaders of several House Democratic caucuses and outlines proposals for judicial reforms and changes to Senate rules. According to the report Trump linked, the measure has little chance of becoming law but reflects priorities among a number of progressive Democratic lawmakers.