Trump lays down law on Iran and SAVE Act in GOP pep talk
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.

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.

