Trump withholds housing bill signature to pressure Republicans on voter ID legislation
Bipartisan housing legislation faces delay as Donald Trump demands passage of the SAVE America Act, drawing criticism from within his own party.
US President Donald Trump announced on 24 June 2026 that he would not sign a landmark housing bill until congressional Republicans pass his proposed SAVE America Act, a measure imposing strict voting restrictions including proof of citizenship and photo identification. The president cancelled a scheduled high-profile signing ceremony at the US Capitol, describing the housing package as of "minor importance" compared to the election reform measure.
The announcement was posted on Trump’s Truth Social platform just two hours before the scheduled event, stating the signing was "hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency." The housing bill, which passed with broad bipartisan support on Tuesday, aims to boost housing supply, ease construction rules, and expand access to home ownership to address affordability issues.
Republican Senator Susan Collins criticised Trump’s refusal to sign, calling it "disappointing" and noting that the bipartisan bill "addresses a major problem." Senate Majority Leader John Thune was seen walking with Trump but largely ignored reporters' questions on the matter. Instead, Trump volunteered without prompting that the Middle East "war is going very well" and that "Iran is making very big concessions."
The SAVE America Act has already failed in the Senate, with critics noting a lack of support among some Republican senators and Senate rules preventing its passage. The measure would require all voters to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote and photo identification to cast a ballot. Supporters argue it would strengthen election security, while critics describe it as an effort to suppress voting in Democratic-leaning communities.
Under US constitutional rules, if the president does not sign the bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law without his signature. Trump had previously cancelled the Senate confirmation hearing for his nominee for director of national intelligence last week, arguing the election bill took priority. Late Tuesday, four Senate Republicans joined Democrats in adopting a resolution ordering Trump to either end the war in the Middle East or seek congressional authorisation to continue it.
