Trump lashes out at reporter over question on SAVE America Act

President Donald Trump on Monday lashed out at a female reporter aboard Air Force One after being asked a question related to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. Before travelling to Michigan to hold a rally-style event, Trump gaggled with the press on the aircraft, and he wasn't happy with what he called a "stupid question." This comes amid a massive push from both the President and Republicans to get the voter ID bill passed.

The confrontation came when the reporter, CBS News' Jennifer Jacobs, asked why Trump demanded the senators remain in Washington, D.C. to pass the SAVE Act rather than campaign across the country ahead of the 2026 midterms. The question seemed to infuriate Trump, who immediately snapped, saying, "What a stupid question for you to ask me!" After rambling about the reporter, Trump got to the point, saying, "the SAVE Act has to be done. They shouldn't leave town. I'm not going to stop them from doing it, but they should get the SAVE Act done." He added that if the Senators failed, it would be very bad for the Republican Party.

The President went on to claim that all Democrats are going to oppose the legislation, and he expected some Republicans to join them. "We have some Republicans; I will not comment on them. A few of them, probably four, that we probably won't get to vote. I'd like to comment on them, but I have too much sense to do it," he said. Trump then claimed that Democrats want an open-border policy "where the world's criminals can pour into our country." "There's something wrong with them," he added.

The exchange comes as Trump demanded that Senate Majority Leader John Thune keep the chamber in session until Republicans pass his stalled SAVE Act, a voting restrictions bill he and some of his party members have made a top priority ahead of November's midterms. Taking to Truth Social on Monday, Trump urged Thune not to allow the Senate to leave town until the legislation is passed or the filibuster is removed. "John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to 'leave town' until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER, where Republicans can then quickly pass everything they ever dreamed of, including a full and deep throated SAVE AMERICA ACT, the Budget, and the ever looming Debt Ceiling disaster, 1929!" he wrote. 

The voter ID bill that would require proof of citizenship and photo identification to vote in federal elections and limit mail‑in voting has faced strong headwinds in the Senate with all Democrats opposing it and several Republicans, including Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski and Thom Tillis voting against adding it to a GOP budget package in June. Thune has repeatedly told President Trump that the GOP doesn't have the votes to pass the legislation, and he is now in the process of pushing through a third reconciliation bill, which was passed by the House and includes provisions from the SAVE America Act, as per The Hill.