Thune rejects any effort to modify the Senate's Filibuster rule – effectively killing the SAVE Act

March 10, 2026 - WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) has firmly rejected President Donald J. Trump's (R) effort to change the Senate rules to require a "talking filibuster." Trump had previously asked Republican Senators to pass a rule change ending the filibuster rule altogether. That had little support so Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) proposed ending the 1974 rule that allows Senators to filibuster without actually standing on the floor of the Senate talking a bill to death. The old filibuster was a talking filibuster. Lee and Trump had hoped that the Senate would pass the rule change to require talking filibusters again. Thune on Tuesday rejected Trump's request effectively killing the SAVE America Act, which would have required that voters show a photo ID at the polls.

At a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Republicans, Thune expressed his concerns about going back to the talking filibuster. He said that the Senate lacks the votes to change filibuster rules or sustain a talking filibuster. A talking filibuster could paralyze the chamber for weeks or months Thune claimed. He also warned that Democrats could exploit the process to offer unlimited amendments, potentially gutting the bill.

"What people don't realize is that it's unlimited debate but also unlimited amendments," Thune warned. "You have to have unified support not only for the goal but also for defeating amendments that would undo the legislation."

The SAVE America Act would have required documented proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, would have mandated photo identification at polling places, would have tightened restrictions on mail-in ballots and voter roll verification. None of that will happen now because Senate Republicans lack the political will to act to implement the SAVE Act or the Trump legislative agenda.

The SAVE Act passed narrowly in the House with only one Democrat supporting it.

President Trump has warned that failure to pass it could jeopardize Republican control of Congress in November.

"It will guarantee the midterms. If you don't get it, big trouble," Trump said at a Republican event in Florida.

Thune said that there is not sufficient support for the filibuster rule change.

"That is just a function of math," Thune told reporters. "For better or worse, I'm the one who has to be a clear-eyed realist about what we can achieve here."

Thune brushed aside pressure from conservative senators like Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Mike Lee of Utah and Rick Scott of Florida.

"You have to make political decisions independent of what the final disposition of that might be on the floor," Thune claimed.

Trump has threatened to withhold endorsements and veto unrelated legislation until the SAVE Act passes.

There will be a vote on the SAVE Act next week on the Senate floor, but that is just political gamesmanship on the part of Thune.

"We're going to have a fight on the floor," Thune said. "Let Democrats vote on whether they think noncitizens should vote in American elections."

Trump Loyalists, including Tommy Tuberville, support the talking filibuster and aggressive tactics.

Senate Institutionalists led by Thune an Mitch McConnell oppose any rule changes.

Democrats argue that claims of widespread noncitizen voting are unfounded and that the bill would disproportionately affect minority and low-income voters. The American people, both Republicans and Democrats, favor photo ID and preventing non-citizens from voting.

Thunes has served in the Senate since 2004. He previously served three terms in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1997 to 2003.

(A.I. contributed to this report.)

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