SAVE America or save face? What’s driving Trump’s recess fight 

Published July 30, 2026 2:00pm ET | Updated July 30, 2026 2:38pm ET



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The Senate is supposed to leave town on Aug. 7 for its five-week recess, and a growing number of Republicans have decided that would be a scandal. President Donald Trump wants the chamber to stay in Washington until it passes the SAVE America Act, his proof-of-citizenship voting bill. If that doesn’t work, he wants Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) to abolish the filibuster and pass it with 51 votes.

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