Trump lays down law on Iran and SAVE Act in GOP pep talk
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President Trump greets House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Whip Tom Emmer at Trump National Doral on March 9. Photo: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images
DORAL, FL: President Trump told House Republicans the conflict in Iran will be "over pretty quickly," without giving a firm timeline — and repeated his warning that he would not sign any legislation until the Senate passed the SAVE America Act.
Why it matters: The dual messages — boasts about successes abroad, coupled with frustration with Republicans and Democrats at home — competed for attention in his pep-talk to House Republicans at their annual retreat in Florida.
- "I am not going to sign anything until this is approved," Trump said of the SAVE legislation, which would require photo IDs at polling stations.
- "They'll have to go to the filibuster, and maybe it will be the talking filibuster, like the old days."
Moments earlier in Washington, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) repeated his reluctance to move forward with a talking filibuster, in part because of the unintended consequences.
- "You have to show me how, in the end, it prevails and succeeds," Thune told reporters.
- "What people don't realize, I think, is it's unlimited debate, but it's also unlimited amendments."
Between the lines: A bill to reopen the Department of Homeland Security is apparently exempt from Trump's threat. He would sign that, an official told the Washington Examiner.
Zoom out: House Republicans are gathering in Doral, Florida, to plot out their legislative strategy for the rest of the year.
- They were also eager for a first-hand update on Iran and the president's plan to lower energy costs, which have spiked since Israel and the U.S. launched military strikes on Iran 10 days ago.
- For Trump, passing the SAVE America Act is the only legislative item he has for House Republicans' agenda. He even floated attaching the bill to the must-pass reauthorization of FISA.
On Iran, Trump claimed victory had already been achieved, while also suggesting that more work needed to be done.
- "We've already won," he said. "But we haven't won enough. We are determined to achieve total victory over this terrorist regime."
Zoom in: Earlier in the day, the president told CBS News that the war "is very complete, pretty much."
- Pressed later by a reporter on whether the war would be over this week, Trump said, "No."
- "Soon, very soon," was how Trump described the timeline.
The intrigue: Trump also insisted that Democrats are no longer focused on affordability — or at least the word.
- "You notice you don't hear that word anymore," Trump said.
Reality check: Democrats are expected to continue hammering Trump on inflation, especially rising gas prices.
The bottom line: Trump was trying to rally the House GOP around his successes in Iran and his strategy for lowering energy prices at home, but his frustration with the Senate seeped out.
