by WorldTribune Staff, June 17, 2026 Non-AI Real World News
His judicial appointments and the SAVE America Act, President Donald Trump’s most important agenda item in the view of his base, are being sabotaged by his own party who is unwilling to end “blue slipping” and the filibuster.
The president, however, is undeterred and applying pressure.
Trump said he will not approve renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) which gives U.S. intelligence agencies broad leeway to collect and examine communications by foreigners outside the United States without getting a warrant, unless the SAVE America Act is attached to it.
The SAVE America Act requires proof of citizenship and voter ID to cast a ballot in federal elections and strictly limits the use of mail-in ballots.
Trump delayed the nomination of Jay Clayton as the next director of national intelligence until James McDonald is approved as U.S. attorney in an attempt to force Congress to pass the voter ID bill.
Clayton, who was set to testify at the hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, had his confirmation fast-tracked after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) lapsed on Friday.
Serving as the current US Attorney for the Southern District, Clayton was tapped to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in May, as the head of the U.S. intelligence community.
While in Europe for the G7, Trump posted to Truth Social:
“The Republicans agreed with Dumocrats to remove very fair, and talented, William Pulte, from serving as Acting DNI in return for getting FISA approved by the Dumocrats. However, the Republicans moved so fast with the hearings of the Great Jay Clayton, current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, that Pulte would be gone before the Dumocrats would vote on FISA. Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA — So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal. In addition, the newly nominated U.S. Attorney, Jamie McDonald, must be confirmed and blue slipped.
“Because of the ridiculous views of Republicans on blue slipping (Dumocrats are often willing to nix it), I may not be able to get the extraordinary Sullivan & Cromwell Partner, Jamie, approved, and I don’t want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place. Therefore, to add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it.
“Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap. Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney. In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”.
Related: DJT slams Grassley for upholding Democrats’ ‘blue slip’ veto power over GOP judicial nominations, August 25, 2025
Senate Majority Leader John Thune continues to insist his conference does not have enough votes to bypass the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act.
“The only way you can get … this done is to nuke the legislative filibuster, and that is not something that we have anywhere close to the votes to do,” Thune told host Bret Baier on Fox News’s “Special Report” on Tuesday.
Freedom Rocks! Until It Is Gone
Trump, in Europe, plays hardball with Senate GOP; Doubles down on SAVE America Act added by Editor Two on
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