Trump, Fellow Republicans Take Shots At Mitch McConnell Over SAVE Act Stall
A simmering rift inside the Republican Party spilled into public view this week as President Donald Trump and several House Republicans sharply criticized Sen. Mitch McConnell over the stalled SAVE America Act, accusing the longtime Kentucky lawmaker of standing in the way of election integrity legislation.
The clash, once the kind of dispute handled behind closed doors, is now playing out in the open. Trump mocked McConnell online while House Republicans questioned his leadership as the bill remains idle in the Senate.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) delivered one of the harshest rebukes during an appearance on SiriusXM, saying McConnell “hates Donald Trump” and arguing that he “should be in a nursing home” rather than blocking the bill. Norman also claimed McConnell is “beholden to the special interests” and called for new GOP leadership and term limits.
Norman later shared his remarks on X, directly naming McConnell and questioning his effectiveness in the Senate. The unusually blunt criticism reflects broader frustration among Trump-aligned Republicans over the SAVE Act’s lack of movement.
During his 2026 State of the Union address, President Trump urged the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. The bill has cleared the House but has not yet received a Senate floor vote.
Trump increased the pressure on social media, posting a clip from “Weekend at Bernie’s” with a caption suggesting McConnell was arriving to block the legislation. The jab underscored conservative frustration with what many see as a must-pass election security measure.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) suggested the opposition could be personal, writing on X that McConnell’s position may be “partially just out of meanness,” adding that “he doesn’t like Trump.” Burchett also questioned who is making decisions in McConnell’s office, comparing the situation to former President Joe Biden’s final days in office.
Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), who is running to replace McConnell upon his retirement, sent a letter urging him, in his role as chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, to move the SAVE America Act expeditiously. Barr called the measure “common sense voter identification and proof of citizenship requirements” and emphasized that the House has now advanced it twice.
McConnell’s office has denied that he is blocking the bill. A spokesperson said the senator “has not, at any point in time, prevented a floor vote” and noted that the most recent House-passed version is awaiting floor consideration. The statement added that McConnell does not control the Senate floor schedule.
John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, pushed back on House criticism, saying lawmakers in the House “aren’t going to tell us how we’re going to run the Senate.” He indicated the chamber plans to address the SAVE Act but is prioritizing other matters first, including government funding.
With McConnell nearing retirement and succession politics heating up in Kentucky, the fight carries added weight. As Trump and House Republicans continue to escalate public pressure, Senate leadership insists it will act on its own timetable. For many in the GOP base, however, the delay has become a flashpoint in the broader struggle over the party’s direction.