Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) fired back at President Trump on Monday, accusing his staff of feeding the president faulty information after Trump publicly lambasted Cassidy and four other Senate Republicans for failing to back the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.
Trump posted on Truth Social that “all Dumocrats and our five Republican Senate Hold Outs” — including Cassidy — must pass the bill, which he called his top legislative priority. But Cassidy has consistently supported the measure, most recently voting for two amendments to the budget reconciliation package that would enact the SAVE Act.
“Mr. President, I don’t know which version of the SAVE America Act you’re referring to, but I am a cosponsor and support the latest version. I don’t know which staffer misled you, but thank you for your attention to this matter!!” Cassidy wrote on social media.
The exchange underscores growing friction between Trump and Capitol Hill Republicans over legislative strategy. Cassidy has previously argued that Trump treats Congress as a rubber stamp. In a related earlier article, Cassidy said the president views lawmakers as “merely an appendage” of the executive branch.
Trump’s list of holdouts included Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Thom Tillis (N.C.), and Mitch McConnell (Ky.) — all of whom have voted against the SAVE Act in some form. Cassidy was lumped in despite his support for the latest House-passed version and for the Graham and Lee amendments.
Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (S.C.) amendment mirrored Trump’s preferred version, which would impose strict limits on mail-in voting, ban transgender athletes from women’s sports, and prohibit gender transition procedures for minors. Sen. Mike Lee’s (Utah) amendment tracked the House bill more closely.
Cassidy also took aim at Trump for refusing to sign a widely supported housing affordability bill — which passed both chambers with strong bipartisan margins — because the president is angry that the SAVE Act hasn’t cleared Congress. “Btw, it’s irresponsible to postpone signing the Housing bill due to the SAVE Act. We need to start delivering relief to people for the high cost of housing ASAP!!” Cassidy wrote.
The Louisiana senator’s pushback comes as Trump continues to pressure GOP lawmakers on voting legislation, even as economic concerns dominate voter sentiment. With midterm elections approaching, some Republicans worry that the president’s focus on the SAVE Act could alienate swing voters. A recent report from GOP senators warned that Trump’s economic disconnect risks midterm blowback, urging a pivot to pocketbook issues.
Trump’s Truth Social post followed a Supreme Court ruling that he described as a “tremendous loss” for voter rights, though the court actually handed him a major win in a separate case by expanding his power to fire independent agency officials. The president has sought to leverage that momentum for the SAVE Act, but internal GOP divisions remain a hurdle.
