Trump refuses to sign landmark housing bill, demanding Congress pass voter ID law
WASHINGTON— President Trump said Wednesday that he will not sign the landmark housing bill that Congress passed this week; It was a stunning decision to jeopardize a rare bipartisan achievement and an escalation of the fight with Senate Republicans over his preferred voter ID bill.
Trump demanded from Truth Social that Congress pass the SAVE America Act, a proof-of-citizenship bill, before considering housing legislation. There was already tension between Trump and Senate Republicans approached the breaking point This week, he consulted on a bill that leaders told him he did not have the votes to pass.
“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signings are canceled until we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider a National Emergency.” Trump wrote on the Internet.
The president’s rejection of a bill that could have helped his party in the midterm elections and which he could have framed as a win on affordability showed a remarkable willingness to blow up a popular measure that Republicans were trying to pass.
The housing bill, passed with great support in the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening and in the Senate on Monday, aims to increase the housing supply. It is the most significant legislation Congress has passed on housing in more than 30 years and includes a number of provisions aimed at removing regulatory hurdles, improving federal programs and encouraging new construction.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told reporters on Wednesday that he had already spoken with Trump about “delaying” the housing bill and discussed making an effort to advance the SAVE America Act.
“He’s decided – I didn’t announce it, I wanted him to announce it – but we’re delaying it,” Johnson said. “As you know, there’s a window of time before we sign a bill, and we’re going to use a little bit more of that window of time and get through this together.”
The voting bill is part of Trump’s effort to assert federal control over elections. Voting rights advocates say this would create unnecessary barriers to citizens voting.
The legislation would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering, require Americans to show identification when voting, and require states to submit voter data to the Department of Homeland Security.
This effort is rooted in Trump’s baseless claims of voter fraud and rigging by Democrats; He said the bill would “guarantee” midterm elections for Republicans.
Trump’s reversal of the housing bill also highlighted his apparent indifference to the cost-of-living issues that voters are most focused on. He has repeatedly dismissed affordability as a “bogus” concept and falsely claimed on Sunday that the United States has the “Best Economy Ever.”
Surveys conducted last week NPR/PBS News/Marist Poll And Fox News poll It showed record dissatisfaction among Americans with the economy and Trump’s support fading among key demographic groups. Trump also lashed out at Truth Social on Wednesday morning, writing without evidence: “MY ACTUAL POLL NUMBERS ARE THE HIGHEST EVER. THANK YOU!!!”
Less than an hour before Trump posted online that he had canceled the bill’s signing, he railed against the SAVE America Act in a Truth Social post, labeling it the “Elizabeth ‘Pocahontas’ Warren-centric housing bill.”
“This is what Americans care about, both Democrats, Republicans, and everyone else. Get the bad Republicans to approve it, or better yet, end the Filibuster and ratify AND approve EVERYTHING REPUBLICANS DREAM,” Trump wrote.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), one of four bipartisan lawmakers leading the deal in both chambers. in question It was said on CNBC Wednesday morning that Trump’s backtracking “doesn’t make any sense.”
“This is a complete disregard for the cost squeeze on American families and genuine efforts to do something about it,” Warren said. “He could be here claiming to be taking a victory lap and instead saying no, no, he had nothing to do with it.”
