GOP senators look to pass Trump’s voting bill as part of a budget package that funds the Iran war and Pentagon after recess

As lawmakers exited the Capitol in the early hours of Saturday, a critical standoff over President Donald Trump's demands to pass a strict proof-of-citizenship voting bill before the summer recess concluded. Although Republican senators had accomplished many of President Trump's key priorities overnight, securing his SAVE America Act's passage remained elusive.

In response, the senators approached the president in a crucial phone call, proposing to embed elements of the voting bill into a broader GOP budget package when the chamber returned in September. Sen. Ron Johnson, chairman of the GOP budget committee, confirmed that this was in line with the president's vision. The abrupt shift in focus highlights the extent to which the president can exercise influence over legislative proceedings.

Despite Trump's efforts, GOP leaders like Sen. Mike Lee and Rick Scott acknowledged their inability to surmount the bill's lack of bipartisan support, ultimately opting to focus on other budgetary matters when Congress reconvenes in September.