On July 22, 2026, President Donald Trump intensified his campaign against Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) during a rally in Georgia, urging supporters to contact Thune's office regarding the SAVE America Act. Trump stated, "We have to pass the SAVE America Act to defend American elections," expressing frustration with the Senate's progress on the legislation. He also called for the elimination of the filibuster, suggesting that Democrats would do so if they regained power.
The House recently passed a version of the election integrity measure by attaching it to the Stop Insider Trading Act, which prohibits Congress members from trading stocks. The combined bill passed with a vote of 232-198, with some bipartisan support.
Trump's criticism of Thune reflects broader discontent among House Republicans regarding the Senate's inaction on the SAVE America Act. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) stated that if Thune is unwilling to advance the legislation, he should step aside. Additionally, Republicans highlighted a recent incident in New Jersey where a software error led to the registration of non-citizens to vote, reinforcing their argument for stronger election safeguards.
Democrats opposed the stock trading ban, arguing it did not go far enough, but ultimately rejected the bill due to its inclusion of provisions from the SAVE America Act. The bill now heads to the Senate, where its future remains uncertain.