White House Chief of Staff Wiles presses Senate GOP on SAVE Act amid resistance

Published Jul 31, 03:16 PM UTC

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to pressure top Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader John Thune and Whip John Barrasso, to pass the controversial SAVE America Act before the August recess. The bill, which would ban mail-in voting and require voters to show a birth certificate or passport, faces significant opposition within the GOP caucus. Wiles also discussed efforts to end the filibuster, a Trump priority that the Senate has repeatedly rejected. The visit came after press secretary Karoline Leavitt publicly stated that Trump's patience was 'running out' on the SAVE Act, prompting Thune to bluntly respond that the caucus simply did not have the votes. Sources described the discussions as 'candid' but not immediately productive, with Thune insisting he would move the president's agenda only when there are enough votes. A former Trump adviser noted the president's high stakes in the bill but acknowledged it remains an 'uphill battle.'