President Trump abruptly cancelled a scheduled signing ceremony for a bipartisan housing bill Wednesday morning, declaring he would withhold his signature until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a voting-related measure he has pushed for months.
The president announced the decision on Truth Social, calling the voting bill "desperately needed" and labeling it a "National Emergency." The move caught Capitol Republicans off guard, coming minutes after House GOP leaders had publicly celebrated the housing package during their weekly press briefing.
Rep. French Hill of Arkansas had just finished praising the bipartisan housing effort and Trump's role in it, telling reporters "Let's show the American people what legislating looks like," when the president's post cancelling the event went live.
House Speaker Mike Johnson moved quickly to manage the situation, telling reporters he had spoken with Trump that morning. Johnson indicated the president still intends to sign the housing bill but will use additional time before the deadline to do so. "We're delaying this, as you know, he has a window of time before he has to sign a bill, and he's going to use a little bit more of that window of time," Johnson said.
The housing package represents significant legislative achievement. It passed the House 358-32 and the Senate 85-5, margins so large that Congress could override a presidential veto if Trump ultimately refuses to sign. Under the Constitution, the bill becomes law automatically if Trump takes no action within ten days of receiving it. It remains unclear whether he has formally received the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged uncertainty about the SAVE Act's path forward, telling reporters he lacks the votes to pass it and sees no realistic way to eliminate the filibuster to change that. Thune was on the Senate floor when Trump's announcement broke and offered no immediate reaction.
The housing bill enjoyed unusual bipartisan support, with Democrats and Republicans working together on the measure. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a key advocate for the package, criticized Trump's move Wednesday, saying he had an opportunity to claim a political victory instead of torpedoing legislation that benefits American families.
Trump plans to press Senate Republicans on the SAVE Act during a Capitol lunch meeting Wednesday, but the path to passage remains uncertain. The voting legislation has been a priority for Trump, who previously threatened to withhold his signature on other bills until it moved forward.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump is playing hardball with bipartisan legislation that had massive congressional backing, betting he can extract concessions on a voting bill that Republican Senate leaders say they can't pass anyway."
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