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Senate Republican leaders are signaling that the path forward for the SAVE act demanded by President Donald Trump could be far more complicated than some conservatives expect.<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) suggested much of the current pressure campaign surrounding the legislation is being driven online rather than inside the Senate itself.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cA lot of that is, it\u2019s in that kind of, you know, paid influencer ecosystem,\u201d Thune <\/span>said<\/span><\/a>, referring to growing calls from some conservative activists to force action on the bill.<\/span><\/p>\n The SAVE act would impose new nationwide election integrity requirements, including proof-of-citizenship documentation to register to vote and voter identification requirements for ballots cast both in person and by mail.<\/span><\/p>\n The House has already passed the bill, and Trump has recently increased pressure on Senate Republicans to move it forward, <\/span>declaring<\/span><\/a> he would refuse to sign legislation that does not include the SAVE Act.<\/span><\/p>\n But Thune indicated that even many Republicans remain uncertain about how the Senate could realistically pass the measure. There\u2019s support among GOP senators, he said, but \u201cthe process and how do you ultimately try and get a result is still unclear to me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Some conservatives have floated forcing the legislation through the use of a talking filibuster strategy designed to pressure Senate Democrats and move the bill forward with a simple majority. Thune, however, <\/span>warned<\/span><\/a> that the tactic would be difficult to execute. \u201cThe talking filibuster issue is one on which there is not, certainly, a unified Republican conference, and there would have to be,\u201d he said after a Senate GOP meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n Under that approach, Republicans would likely face a barrage of amendments and procedural votes, requiring near-perfect unity within the conference. \u201cIf you go down that path, you\u2019re talking about the need to table what are going to be numerous amendments and an ability to keep 50 Republicans unified, pretty much on every single vote,\u201d Thune said. \u201cAnd there\u2019s just not, there isn\u2019t support for doing that at this point.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The procedural uncertainty comes as Republicans juggle several other legislative priorities, including funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and pursuing a housing-related bill.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe want to get to the SAVE Act,\u201d Thune told reporters, but cautioned that tackling other priorities becomes \u201charder to do once you\u2019re in the throes of a talking filibuster.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The debate is unfolding alongside an increasingly public dispute within the GOP over who is responsible for the bill\u2019s slow movement. In the last few weeks, as voters become acutely aware of the stall, several House Republicans and Trump himself have <\/span>publicly criticized<\/span><\/a> Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), accusing the longtime senator of blocking the legislation. Lawmakers including Ralph Norman (R-SC) and Tim Burchett (R-TN) have openly questioned McConnell\u2019s motives, while Trump mocked the Kentucky Republican online over the stalled bill.<\/span><\/p>\n McConnell\u2019s office has pushed back on those claims, arguing that the senator does not control whether the measure receives a vote. A spokesperson said McConnell \u201chas not, at any point in time, prevented a floor vote on any version of the SAVE Act,\u201d noting that the latest House-passed version of the legislation is awaiting Senate floor consideration.<\/span><\/p>\n The dynamic has placed McConnell at the center of conservative frustration over the issue even as Senate leadership emphasizes the procedural challenges involved. For now, Thune\u2019s most recent comments suggest that while Republican leaders say they want to advance the bill, the strategy for actually doing so remains unsettled.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n