Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
MaddowBlog-2 months later, Trump's brazen SAVE Act bluff unravels in embarrassing fashion
On March 8, the president said he would not sign any other bills until the anti-voting package reached his desk. He didn’t mean a word of it, apparently.
Exactly two months ago today, Trump said he would not sign any other bills until the SAVE Act reached his desk.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-05-08T20:27:22.546Z
We now know that he was bluffing — and we also know that the SAVE Act has been shelved.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-save-america-act-bluff
During a recent briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared categorically that Donald Trump “does not bluff.” This was certainly in line with the image the president and his team have long been eager to convey to the nation and the world: When the Republican makes threats and issues ultimatums, everyone should fully expect him to follow through.....
“I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed,” Trump wrote.
In other words, as far as the president was concerned, he would refuse to sign every bill that cleared the Republican-led Congress, indefinitely, until his anti-voting, anti-transgender package reached his desk.'....
As for the anti-voting, anti-trans package the president remains desperate to sign, he’s going to have to start lowering his expectations. The New Republic reported Thursday:
It seems that no one is coming to rescue the SAVE Act.
Weeks after Donald Trump stressed to his party that passing that voter restriction bill was the “most important thing” they could do, Senate Republicans have shelved the legislation entirely, unable to bypass the Democratic filibuster that stands in the way of its potential passage.
This dovetailed with a Punchbowl News report that said the far-right proposal has been “shelved,” adding, “Now, even the bill’s most outspoken GOP supporters are acknowledging that another drawn-out Senate floor debate would be a futile exercise.”
No wonder Trump has quietly walked away from the threat he issued to lawmakers two months ago.
“I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed,” Trump wrote.
In other words, as far as the president was concerned, he would refuse to sign every bill that cleared the Republican-led Congress, indefinitely, until his anti-voting, anti-transgender package reached his desk.'....
As for the anti-voting, anti-trans package the president remains desperate to sign, he’s going to have to start lowering his expectations. The New Republic reported Thursday:
It seems that no one is coming to rescue the SAVE Act.
Weeks after Donald Trump stressed to his party that passing that voter restriction bill was the “most important thing” they could do, Senate Republicans have shelved the legislation entirely, unable to bypass the Democratic filibuster that stands in the way of its potential passage.
This dovetailed with a Punchbowl News report that said the far-right proposal has been “shelved,” adding, “Now, even the bill’s most outspoken GOP supporters are acknowledging that another drawn-out Senate floor debate would be a futile exercise.”
No wonder Trump has quietly walked away from the threat he issued to lawmakers two months ago.