Trump ramps up pressure on Congress to pass SAVE Act with new ultimatum

President Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Congress on Sunday in an effort to urge prioritization of the SAVE Act, the proposed legislation to require voter ID, saying it "supersedes everything else" and that he won't sign any other legislation until the SAVE Act is passed and he signs it into law. 

"It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else. MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed," Trump said Sunday in a post on Truth Social. He cautioned lawmakers against passing a "watered-down" version of the bill, urging Congress to approve a law that requires voter ID and proof of citizenship as well as heavily limiting mail-in voting.  

Trump's remarks drew almost immediate pushback from Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, who echoed his previous accusations that the SAVE Act amounts to "Jim Crowe 2.0" and added that "Senate Democrats will not help pass the SAVE Act under any circumstances." 

Recent polling, however, has shown voter ID requirements enjoy broad support throughout the American electorate. According to demographic polling data aggregated by CNN, more than 80% of white and Latino voters support voter ID laws, and 76% of black voters support such measures, contradicting Schumer's position that voter ID laws would disenfranchise black voters.

Polling conducted in September by Fox News found that 84% of all Americans -- Republicans and Democrats -- support voter ID requirements, while just 16% oppose such mandates.

In his post on social media, President Trump also praised conservative activist Scott Pressler for remarks he made on Fox News over the weekend. Pressler pointed out that few concepts have generated such broad agreement among Americans at large in U.S. history. Pressler also echoed calls from other Republicans for use of the "talking filibuster" in the senate in order to get the bill passed.