Trump: Democrats oppose SAVE America Act ‘because they want to cheat’

As Senate debate over the SAVE America Act drags on, President Donald Trump Friday accused Democrats of opposing the bill because they intend to cheat in elections.

“I was hearing negative things because the Democrats are all against voter ID. They’re all against citizenship to vote,” Trump told reporters. “They don’t want to approve voter ID because they cheat… You know why… Because they want to cheat.”

The remarks come as Senate Republicans press forward with debate on the sweeping anti-voting bill despite lacking the votes needed to overcome a filibuster. 

The legislation would impose strict proof-of-citizenship and photo ID requirements that voting rights advocates warn could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters.

Trump also highlighted his role in pushing to expand the bill beyond voting, referencing additional provisions targeting transgender Americans that have become a central focus of Republican messaging during debate.

“[Democrats] like the transgender thing with mutilization [sic.] of your children,” Trump said. “You know, we added two little elements. No men in women’s sports… we added that.”

The president framed the legislation as broadly popular while acknowledging it faces political obstacles in the Senate.

“When you add them all up I think they’re all 95 to 99 percent issues,” Trump said. “It should be an easy pass, but we need Democrat votes.”

Trump’s comments mirrored rhetoric from Republican senators on the floor this week, where debate has repeatedly centered on false claims of widespread noncitizen voting, culture war grievances and accusations that Democrats oppose the bill because they want to cheat. 

“Who benefits from a system that makes it really, really easy to vote and really, really easy to cheat?” ” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), one of the bill’s sponsors, said during debate. “Let’s be honest. There is only one reason to oppose this bill and what it does — one reason: They want to cheat.”