President Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Thursday, June 18, to Senate Republicans, declaring that failure to eliminate the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act would doom the party and the country.
In a Truth Social post, he said he would “sadly, be the last Republican President” if they do not act.
“Anybody who doesn’t want to Terminate the Filibuster is a FOOL, a very stupid one, at that!” Trump wrote.
Trump Warns GOP Faces Political Disaster Without SAVE America Act
He argued that Democrats would quickly scrap the rule themselves upon regaining power, then add two new left-leaning states, expand the Supreme Court to 21 justices, and lock in advantages that would make future Republican victories impossible.
The rant came amid ongoing frustration over the SAVE America Act, also known as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
The measure, which has passed the House multiple times, aims to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections.
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Trump and the rest of the Republicans see it as essential election security, while Democrats have been calling it voter suppression that would disenfranchise millions of eligible citizens who lack easy access to documents like birth certificates or passports.
Trump directed his message squarely at Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and the GOP conference, urging him to act before it is too late.
“The Republican Party will never win another Election,” he said. “Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and the Republican Senate, must not let this ‘carnage’ happen. They will go down on the wrong side of History.”
President Calls for Immediate End to the Senate Filibuster
He asked them to “terminate the filibuster, and immediately approve the Save America Act.”
The filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most legislation in the Senate. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority, the rule has blocked the SAVE Act despite repeated attempts.
Thune has repeatedly stated there are not enough votes within the GOP to change the rules. “The votes currently aren’t there,” he said in recent appearances.
Trump has pushed for ending the filibuster during government shutdown fights and to advance his priorities on voting, borders, and spending.
Why the SAVE America Act Remains Stuck in the Senate
Senate Republicans have resisted, viewing the 60-vote threshold as a safeguard for minority rights and institutional stability.
Some moderate GOP senators, including Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, have joined Democrats in blocking related efforts.
The SAVE Act debate has dragged on for months after The House passed versions in early 2025 and again in February 2026.
In the Senate, it has faced procedural hurdles and failed cloture votes. Its supporters, like Rep. Chip Roy, argue it closes loopholes that could allow non-citizens to vote.
Opponents, mostly Democrats, cite research indicating the number of non-citizen voters is minimal and say the paperwork requirements create needless hurdles, especially for older voters, rural residents and those who have moved.
Trump is now predicting Democrats would pursue “2 Radical Left States, 4 Democrat Senators,” pack the courts, and tilt the Electoral College and popular vote decisively.
“The Republican Party isn’t at stake, our Country is,” he wrote.
Thune and other Senate leaders have tried to balance loyalty to Trump with practical Senate math.
In past shutdown standoffs, Trump similarly demanded the “nuclear option” to bypass the filibuster for funding bills and election measures.
Those pushes gained some traction but ultimately failed to meet the votes needed to rewrite rules.
Growing Tensions Between Trump and Senate Republicans
The president’s call also adds pressure as midterms loom. Republicans worry about holding their slim majorities, while Democrats are seeing the filibuster fight as evidence of GOP overreach.
Public polling on the SAVE Act remains split along partisan lines, with independents often skeptical of major procedural changes in the Senate.
As it stands now, the SAVE America Act sits in limbo. Trump’s intervention could imply deep tensions between the president’s aggressive style and the Senate’s deliberative traditions.
