Senate Majority Leader John Thune is facing intense pressure from President Trump and conservative activists to wage an aggressive floor fight over the SAVE America Act, a sweeping election bill focused on voter identification and registration changes. Thune has resisted calls to pursue a time-consuming talking filibuster, arguing that there are not enough votes in the Senate to pass the legislation or to change chamber rules to force it through.

The pushback has sparked a fierce intraparty clash, with prominent conservative figures and allies of the president accusing Thune of lacking resolve. While President Trump has publicly urged him to act, much of the sharpest criticism has come from outside groups and influential supporters who warn of political consequences if the bill fails. Thune’s social media accounts have been flooded with attacks demanding stronger action.

Complicating matters, Trump has said he will not sign other legislation until the bill reaches his desk and has tied his political support in a key Texas Senate primary to its passage. Some Republican senators have expressed reservations about provisions such as restricting voting by mail, and former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has argued against changing filibuster rules, citing past Republican opposition to similar Democratic efforts.

For now, Thune plans to bring the bill to the floor and allow Democrats to block it, a traditional strategy designed to put opponents on record. But without escalating the fight as demanded by the party’s right flank, he remains caught between protecting Senate norms, managing his majority and satisfying a president who insists on action.