Trump Stops Short of Backing Thune for Another Term, Presses Senate on SAVE America Act

President Donald Trump declined to endorse Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) for another term during an interview published Thursday, while voicing frustration over congressional Republicans’ inability to advance key pieces of his legislative agenda.

Speaking with Punchbowl, Trump offered a measured response when asked whether he supports Thune serving another term as Senate leader. The president pointed specifically to the Senate’s failure to pass the SAVE America Act, legislation that would establish stricter voter identification requirements and impose new restrictions on mail-in voting.

“I don’t want to get into that necessarily,” Trump said when asked about Thune’s future as Senate leader.

Although Trump refrained from offering a direct endorsement, he indicated that his relationship with Thune remains positive while acknowledging disappointment over the legislation’s lack of progress.

“I get along with him. It’s unfortunate that he doesn’t have the votes,” Trump said.
The president suggested he believes Thune is making a genuine effort to move the measure through the Senate but emphasized that failure to secure enough support would be disappointing.

“John’s trying. He’s trying hard. I really believe that,” Trump said. “But if he doesn’t get there, it would be unfortunate.”
Trump also renewed his call to eliminate the Senate filibuster, arguing that doing so would allow Republicans to quickly pass not only the SAVE America Act but a broader legislative agenda.

“I believe strongly in terminating the filibuster, and by the way, getting SAVE America Act approved immediately, and about 400 other things in every hour of every day,” the president said.

Thune has publicly acknowledged that there are not enough votes in the Senate either to eliminate the filibuster or to pass the SAVE America Act under the chamber’s current political makeup.

During the interview, Trump predicted Democrats would move swiftly to eliminate the filibuster if they regain control of Congress after the upcoming midterm elections.

“If they get in, they’re going to do it very quickly,” Trump said.

He added that he would support eliminating the procedural rule regardless of whether Democrats acted first.

“I would do it whether they did it or not,” Trump said. “We would get in the next two and a half years; we would get things that nobody ever dreamt of. We would be in office for the next hundred years.”

Beyond the Senate’s legislative challenges, Trump also expressed concern about Republican turnout in the midterm elections, noting that he will not be on the ballot.

The president questioned whether Republican voters who have consistently supported him will be as motivated to vote without his name appearing on the ticket.

“If I [am not running], will those people go out and vote?” Trump said. “And that’s the one thing I can’t do. I’m going to ask them to.”
Trump argued that frustration among many Republican voters is directed toward congressional Republicans rather than toward his own administration.
“The question is, will they vote?” he said. “Because a lot of them are very angry at Republicans, to be honest with you.”

He concluded by reiterating that distinction.
“They’re angry at Republicans, but they’re not angry at me,” Trump said.
The interview highlighted Trump’s continued focus on advancing the SAVE America Act, his push to eliminate the Senate filibuster, and his concerns about Republican voter enthusiasm heading into the midterm elections, while stopping short of offering a clear endorsement for Thune’s continued leadership in the Senate.