US President Donald Trump abruptly canceled plans to sign a major bipartisan housing bill, declaring that he would withhold action until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, a sweeping elections measure that has become a central priority of his second term.
“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
It remains unclear whether the president ultimately intends to sign or veto the housing legislation. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump has repeatedly urged Republicans to approve the SAVE America Act, which would overhaul election procedures nationwide and introduce new voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements. However, Republican leaders have maintained that they lack sufficient support to pass the bill due to unified Democratic opposition and resistance within the GOP to eliminating the Senate filibuster.
The decision to postpone the signing of a housing bill that cleared both chambers of Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support is expected to deepen tensions between the White House and Senate Republicans.
The legislation seeks to reduce housing costs by encouraging home construction and limiting large investors’ purchases of single-family homes. Republicans had viewed the measure as a significant legislative achievement ahead of the November elections, particularly as concerns grow that rising gasoline prices linked to the Iran conflict could hurt the party politically.
Earlier Wednesday, Trump downplayed the housing measure, calling it “of minor importance” before again shifting attention to the SAVE America Act.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune reacted cautiously when asked about the president’s decision. “I just heard that. … I guess I would say at this point I don’t have any observations about that,” he said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Trump’s move, arguing that the president was using available time strategically. “He has a window of time before he has to sign a bill, and he’s going to use a little bit more of that window of time, and we’re going to go through this together,” Johnson said, adding that it was his “estimation” Trump would sign the bill within the Constitution’s 10-day deadline.
Democrats quickly criticized the move. “Congress passed a bipartisan bill to make it easier to own a home,” Representative Jason Crow wrote on X. “The President is refusing to sign it. Donald Trump doesn’t care about lowering costs for you.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Trump of “making such a fool of himself” by refusing to sign legislation aimed at improving housing affordability. Schumer added that even if Trump vetoes the bill, “there are probably enough votes in both houses to override that veto.”
By Vafa Guliyeva
