Trump vows not sign any bills until act with anti-trans provisions is passed

US president Donald Trump has vowed not to sign any bills into law until a major elections bill passed, while insisting it includes anti-trans provisions.  

The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, also known as the SAVE Act, is a bill which would require every American to provide documentary proof of citizenship to register or re-register to vote in federal elections.

Despite both federal and state law already banning non-American citizens from voting in federal and state elections respectively, supportive Republicans believe the act will halt voter fraud – and stop elections allegedly being “stolen”.

However, it has been warned that because many US citizens do not have citizenship documents readily available – as they do not own a passport or have a paper copy of their birth certificate – they will be unable to register to vote, leaving potentially millions disenfranchised.

“The SAVE Act would disenfranchise Americans of all ages and races, but younger voters and voters of color would suffer disproportionately,” Eliza Sweren-Becker and Owen Bacskai outlined for the Brennan Center for Justice. “Likewise, millions of women whose married names aren’t on their birth certificates or passports would face extra steps just to make their voices heard.”

On his Truth Social platform on Sunday (8 March), Trump vowed to cease signing other bills into law until the SAVE Act is passed.

“Great Job by hard working Scott Pressler on Fox & Friends talking about using the Filibuster, or Talking Filibuster, in order to pass THE SAVE AMERICA ACT. an 88% issue with ALL VOTERS.” Trump wrote, referencing Pressler’s appearance on appearance on the Fox News show.

“It must be done immediately. It supersedes everything else.”

Trump continued: “MUST GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE. I, as President, will not sign other Bills until this is passed, AND NOT THE WATERED DOWN VERSION – GO FOR THE GOLD: MUST SHOW VOTER I.D. & PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: NO MAIL-IN BALLOTS EXCEPT FOR MILITARY – ILLNESS, DISABILITY, TRAVEL.”

Trump then add calls for additional, unrelated, provisions to be added to the bill: “NO MEN IN WOMEN’S SPORTS: NO TRANSGENDER MUTILIZATION FOR CHILDREN! DO NOT FAIL!!!”

Since returning to the White House for his second term in office in January 2025, the Trump administration swiftly enacted a raft of anti-trans policies.

These orders included proclaiming the official policy of the US is that there are “only two sexes”, banning transgender people from serving in the military, restricting gender-affirming healthcare for trans youngsters under the age 19 and barring trans women and girls from female sports.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted last week that the president “added on some priorities” to the bill, such as the ban on “transgender transition surgeries for minors”.

“We are not gonna tolerate the mutilation of young children in this country. No men in women’s sports,” she said.

“The president putting all of these priorities together speaks to how common sense they are.”