President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will not sign a bipartisan housing bill approved by Congress, declaring that he is withholding his signature in protest until the Senate passes the SAVE America Act, which he says is essential to protecting election integrity.

Because Trump neither signed nor vetoed the legislation during the Constitution’s 10-day review period, excluding Sundays, the bill is expected to become law automatically on Friday.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated his opposition to the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, arguing that Congress should focus first on election reform rather than housing legislation, despite the measure’s overwhelming bipartisan approval.

“I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House,” Trump wrote. He added that the SAVE America Act has broad Republican backing and would require photo identification and proof of U.S. citizenship to vote while sharply restricting mail-in voting to military personnel, disabled voters, those who are ill, and travelers.

Trump also called on Senate Republicans to abolish the legislative filibuster if that is what it takes to enact the election bill, warning that Democrats would not hesitate to do the same if they regained control of Congress.

“The Dumocrats will TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, if and when they ever get the chance,” Trump wrote. “The title of DUMB will revert to the Republicans who allowed this horrible calamity to happen.”

The president’s remarks follow his decision on June 24 to cancel a planned White House signing ceremony for the housing legislation after insisting that lawmakers first approve the SAVE America Act, which would strengthen federal voter identification requirements and tighten election regulations.

The housing bill cleared the Senate by an 85-5 vote and passed the House by a margin of 358-32 after months of bipartisan negotiations led by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.), Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.), and Democratic lawmakers.

Supporters have hailed the package as the most significant federal housing legislation enacted since the 2008 financial crisis.

Among its provisions are incentives for new home construction, expanded support for manufactured housing, easier access to mortgage financing through community financial institutions, and restrictions preventing large institutional investors from purchasing more than 350 single-family homes.

Trump dismissed the housing legislation as “a yawn” compared to the SAVE America Act, which he has repeatedly argued is vital to safeguarding elections ahead of the 2026 midterm contests.

The affordability of housing remains a pressing issue across the country, with elevated mortgage rates and soaring home prices continuing to put significant financial pressure on American families.

Although housing advocates have welcomed the legislation as a meaningful first step, many economists believe additional action will be necessary because zoning and land-use policies remain largely under the authority of state and local governments.

Trump has made clear that, for now, his chief legislative focus is election security, maintaining that Congress should enact the SAVE America Act before turning its attention to other bipartisan initiatives.

{Matzav.com}