Mike Lee

Thune has become increasingly blunt about the SAVE America Act’s prospects in the Senate, at first entertaining Lee’s attempts to pass it with a messaging exercise meant to replicate a “talking filibuster.” He moved on to other priorities in the spring and calls a return to that debate futile, given that some of the Republicans who have voted for the bill are unwilling to sidestep the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold.

The legislation, which requires voter ID and proof of citizenship when registering to vote, has 50 sponsors, or a simple majority, but there is Republican opposition to add-ons Trump wants for mail-in voting. A broader version of the bill only attracted 48 votes earlier this month.

Lee, for his part, argues that Thune must find a way to overcome that opposition and mocked a floor speech Thune gave Monday evening on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“Cool,” Lee said. “Let’s pass the SAVE America Act now. As I’ve been asking you to do for months, please bring it up now and announce that we will debate it until it passes.”

When asked about that post, Thune acknowledged that Lee “feels strongly about it” but downplayed the virality of X posts calling for its passage.

“I appreciate that, and it’s his prerogative to communicate how he wants to communicate,” Thune said. “But at the end of the day, I have to deal with reality, and sometimes, the alternative universe that is X doesn’t reflect the facts on the ground.”

Thune said to expect a “robust” conversation on Wednesday, when Trump comes to face-to-face with Senate Republicans at a conference for the first time in months.

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The SAVE America Act is one topic expected to be discussed, and Thune would prefer that Republicans help dissuade him from harping on the bill. The president has threatened to veto unrelated legislation over the lack of movement.

Republicans also want to hear from Trump on the Iran war amid concerns that he is negotiating an Obama-style nuclear deal to end the three-month war. Thune teased a “question and answer” format for the lunch, which is being hosted by one of Lee’s allies, Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL).