Senate Majority Leader Thune Rejects Trump's Filibuster Proposal

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stated he is not in favor of eliminating the Senate filibuster to advance President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act. During a press conference on March 10, 2026, Thune responded to Trump's request for Republicans to bypass the filibuster and the upcoming Senate recess to expedite the passage of the anti-voting legislation, which has struggled to gain traction without a 60-vote supermajority. Thune remarked, 'We could stay here until Christmas. The Democrats aren’t voting for this... Republicans are not getting rid of the legislative filibuster.' He acknowledged his support for the bill but emphasized the lack of sufficient votes for its passage. Thune's comments followed Trump's public criticism of him on Truth Social, urging him not to allow the Senate to adjourn until the necessary votes for the SAVE America Act are secured. Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), who has also supported the bill, expressed her disagreement with canceling the Senate recess, stating that it would not change the outcome regarding the bill's support. The SAVE America Act aims to impose strict proof of citizenship requirements and restrict mail voting, which critics argue could disenfranchise many voters. Thune has expressed skepticism about the current legislative strategy and called for clarity on the bill's potential success.