Trump Urges GOP to Back SAVE Act as House Sets Up Vote

The bill would require proof of citizenship to register and a government ID to vote, drawing criticism from Democrats.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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President Donald Trump encouraged lawmakers to fight for the SAVE Act on Sunday as House Republicans set up a vote for the bill this week. The SAVE Act, an acronym for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, would require Americans to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote and present a government-issued photo ID at the polls. While Republicans defend the bill as election security, Democrats are pushing back on it, saying it would impact minority voters.

Why it matters

The SAVE Act is the latest effort by Republicans to tighten voting rules, which they argue is necessary to prevent voter fraud, but Democrats say is really aimed at suppressing the votes of minorities and other groups that tend to support Democratic candidates.

The details

The House Rules Committee is meeting on Tuesday to set up a floor vote for the SAVE Act. While the bill is expected to pass the Republican-controlled House, it faces an uphill battle in the Senate due to the 60-vote majority required for passage. Republicans have called for eliminating the filibuster to allow the bill to pass, but Democrats have vowed to block the legislation.

  • President Trump posted his support for the SAVE Act on Truth Social on Sunday, February 5, 2026.
  • The House Rules Committee is meeting on Tuesday, February 11, 2026 to set up a floor vote for the SAVE Act.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is urging Republicans to support the SAVE Act.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader who is pushing back against the SAVE Act, saying it would impact minority voters and revive Jim Crow-era voting restrictions.

Chip Roy

A Republican Representative and lead sponsor of the SAVE Act, who plans to "force those who are saying they'll filibuster to actually take to the floor of the Senate and filibuster.'

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What they’re saying

“America's Elections are Rigged, Stolen, and a Laughingstock all over the World. We are either going to fix them, or we won't have a Country any longer.”

— Donald Trump (Truth Social)

“What they're trying to do here is the same thing that was done in the South for decades to prevent people of color from voting. This is vicious and nasty. We're not reviving Jim Crow all over the country.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader (dayton247now.com)

“The only reason you don't want it is because you want people to vote who aren't citizens or shouldn't be voting.”

— Chip Roy, Republican Representative (dayton247now.com)

What’s next

The House Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 11, 2026 to set up a floor vote for the SAVE Act. If the bill passes the House, it will then move to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle due to the 60-vote majority required for passage.

The takeaway

The SAVE Act is the latest flashpoint in the ongoing battle over voting rights and election security, with Republicans arguing it is necessary to prevent voter fraud and Democrats claiming it is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress the votes of minority and other traditionally Democratic-leaning voters. The outcome of this legislation could have significant implications for the future of American democracy.