Trump withholds signature on housing bill to pressure Senate over SAVE America Act

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump allowed a sweeping bipartisan housing bill to become law without his signature after refusing to sign it as part of his push for the Senate to advance the SAVE America Act.

Trump's decision came after months of bipartisan negotiations over the housing legislation and prevented Republicans from holding a planned bill-signing ceremony. The move also highlighted the Senate's resistance to taking up Trump's elections proposal despite pressure from the White House.

Trump links housing bill decision to SAVE America Act

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act automatically became law at 12 am Saturday after Trump neither signed nor vetoed it within the constitutional 10-day window, CBS News reported on Saturday, July 11.

Trump had “canceled a planned Capitol Hill signing ceremony last month and doubled down on his position Friday morning in a Truth Social post,” the report said.

"I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT," Trump wrote, arguing the elections measure had strong support among Republicans.

The president had made “clear he wanted attention focused on the SAVE America Act, which would impose new restrictions on voting and voter registration, including proof of citizenship requirements and photo ID provisions,” the report stated.

Trump also dismissed the housing legislation as "a yawn."

Despite refusing to sign the measure, Trump chose not to veto it, allowing the bill to become law automatically.

Elizabeth Warren criticizes Trump's decision on housing bill

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Senate's leading supporter of the legislation, criticized Trump's decision after the bill took effect.

"At the stroke of midnight, a huge bipartisan bill to lower housing costs became law without the President's signature," Warren said.

She questioned why Trump delayed action on the legislation for more than two weeks, adding, "Maybe because there was nothing in it for him personally — no gold-encrusted ballroom, no Qatari jet, no $2 billion crypto deal."

Warren concluded that "Donald Trump couldn't pick up the pen because he just isn't interested in lowering costs for American families."

The report said Trump's decision put congressional Republicans in a difficult position by denying them an opportunity to highlight legislation aimed at lowering housing costs ahead of the midterm elections.

Senate GOP leaders had repeatedly said the SAVE America Act lacked enough support to pass despite pressure from the White House.

Mike Johnson backs housing bill becoming law

House Speaker Mike Johnson said he encouraged Trump to sign the legislation "with the fattest black marker you have," telling the president its results "are going to be very, very good for the American people."

Johnson said he believed the measure would become law regardless of Trump's decision.

"So I hope he does sign it. If he doesn't, it's still law; we'll still celebrate it," Johnson said. "But he's trying to make a point and I think he's making it very effectively."

According to the report, the new law includes more than 45 provisions aimed at increasing housing supply, streamlining affordable housing development, converting vacant commercial buildings into housing, expanding support for factory-built homes, increasing opportunities for veterans and limiting institutional investors from purchasing certain existing single-family homes.