President Donald Trump is pressuring Senate Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, telling Majority Leader John Thune that leadership requires securing the votes to advance the bill.

In remarks shared on X, Trump responded to a reporter who said Thune claimed Republicans lack the votes.

“That’s part of being a LEADER. You have to GET the votes!” Trump said.

Asked whether he has confidence in Thune, Trump added:

“I like him so much, a high quality person. And he told me the same thing, ‘we don’t have the votes.’ Only a couple of votes short. That’s what BEING A LEADER, you have to GET the votes. You have to get the votes.”

The SAVE America Act would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections. The House passed the bill, but Senate Democrats have blocked it under rules that require 60 votes to end debate.

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In a post on Truth Social, Trump also called on Senate Republicans to “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, and get our airports, and everything else, moving again,” while urging lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act.

Thune has resisted calls to change Senate rules, arguing Republicans do not have the votes to advance the bill under a simple majority.

“Well, first off and foremost, because we don’t have the votes for it,” Thune said in a March 17 interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier. “It would take even a talking filibuster; it would take 51 votes. We don’t have 51 votes for that in the United States Senate.”

Thune also warned that opening the floor could allow Democrats to attach unrelated amendments that could derail the legislation.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Thune cautioned that forcing a filibuster fight could open the door to controversial proposals that could sink the SAVE Act.

In a separate post on X, Vice President JD Vance urged Republicans to act immediately.

“I would bet every dollar that I own that the next time the Democrats have control of the Senate, they will break the filibuster, pack the Supreme Court, and destroy this country. We have to do it NOW in order to save the country,” Vance said.

What Is The Filibuster?

The filibuster is a Senate rule that allows lawmakers to delay or block legislation by extending debate.

Most bills require 51 votes to pass. Before the Senate can hold a final vote, at least 60 senators must agree to end debate through a process called cloture. Without those 60 votes, the Senate cannot move forward.

In modern practice, senators do not need to speak for hours to block a bill. A group of at least 41 senators can signal opposition and stop a vote.

The Constitution does not include the filibuster. The Senate created the rule, and a simple majority can change or eliminate it.

How Both Parties Use It

Both Republicans and Democrats have used the filibuster to block legislation when they are in the minority.

During the Obama administration, Republicans used the tactic to slow Democratic priorities. In 2013, Sen. Ted Cruz spoke for more than 21 hours to protest Obamacare funding. That same year, Sen. Rand Paul spoke for nearly 13 hours over U.S. drone policy.

Democrats have used the same tactic. In 2016, Sen. Chris Murphy spoke for roughly 15 hours to demand votes on gun control legislation. Democrats also filibustered judicial nominees during the George W. Bush administration.

Lawmakers in both parties have called for eliminating the filibuster when it blocked their priorities, while defending it when it served their interests.

Why The Fight Matters Now

Democrats are using the filibuster to block the SAVE America Act, while Republicans are debating whether to eliminate the rule to pass the legislation with a simple majority.

The bill cannot reach a final vote without 60 senators agreeing to end debate.

Trump and Vance argue the majority should govern with 51 votes. Thune and other Republicans warn that eliminating the filibuster would allow Democrats to pass major legislation if they regain control of the Senate.

The standoff shows how Senate rules determine whether legislation advances, regardless of which party controls the chamber.

A Rule That Shapes Power

The filibuster traces back to a rules change in 1806 that removed a mechanism to end debate. Lawmakers later created the cloture rule in 1917 and lowered the threshold to 60 votes in 1975.

Supporters say the rule protects minority rights and forces compromise. Critics argue it allows a minority of senators to block legislation supported by a majority.

With Republicans divided and Democrats united in opposition, the SAVE Act faces a filibuster hurdle in the Senate — and the debate over the filibuster continues to shape what Congress can and cannot pass.