Trump delays housing bill signing, demands stricter voter ID laws

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will refuse to sign a landmark housing bill unless congressional Republicans push through the voting overhaul he has been demanding, escalating a clash within his party ahead of the midterm elections. Trump has been pressing for months for the passage of the SAVE America Act, a package that would impose strict new election limits, including requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID to cast a ballot.

In his push for the reforms, which Democrats criticize as an attack on voting rights, Trump torpedoed what Republicans hoped would be a positive event: a high-profile ceremony addressing housing affordability. Just two hours before the event at the US Capitol, Trump posted on Truth Social that the housing news conference and signing were canceled until the SAVE America Act, which he called a "national emergency," is passed.

The housing bill, which passed Tuesday with broad bipartisan support including strong backing from congressional Republicans, aims to boost housing supply and expand homeownership as high rents and mortgage costs become major political issues. Trump had been supportive of the package, which was meant to showcase his efforts to lower living costs amid persistent inflation.

The election reform measure has already failed in the Senate. Critics call it a blatant attempt to suppress voting in Democratic-leaning communities. Trump, who continues to falsely claim he won the 2020 election, has repeatedly demanded its passage despite Republican leaders explaining it has little chance due to Senate rules and opposition from some GOP senators.

Although Trump canceled the ceremony, he still went to Capitol Hill to meet with Senate Republicans at lunchtime. He largely ignored questions about the housing bill, instead volunteering that the Middle East war is "going very well" and that Iran is making "very big concessions." This came after four Senate Republicans joined Democrats late Tuesday in adopting a resolution rebuking Trump and ordering him to either end the war or seek congressional authorization.

Under the US Constitution, if the president does not sign a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session and he does not veto it, it automatically becomes law. Trump's refusal to sign may thus be purely symbolic. Last week, he also canceled the Senate confirmation hearing for his intelligence director nominee, arguing the election bill took priority.

Supporters believe the voter reform would enhance election security. However, voter fraud is extremely rare even in states without ID requirements. Critics warn that such restrictions disproportionately affect minority groups and could infringe on the voting rights of millions of Americans.