EXCLUSIVE: GOP Leaders Circulate Talking Points To Quash SAVE America Act Revolt
Senate GOP leaders are circulating talking points aimed at quashing the internal revolt over the SAVE America Act, according to a document obtained exclusively by the Daily Caller.
The document outlines potential questions from the media and offers guidance for members’ responses on several topics, including the GOP’s marquee election-integrity legislation, the SAVE America Act. The document, created by the Senate Republican Conference (SRC), is titled “Conference Prep.”
Senate Republican “Conference Prep” by ashley
The prep document includes a hypothetical question a member could face: “President Trump is calling for Leader Thune to keep the Senate in session in August to pass the SAVE America Act. Do you agree?”
The suggested response states: “I want to pass the SAVE America Act just as much as the President, but we don’t have the votes to pass the SAVE America Act or eliminate the filibuster. If staying in session will somehow change that outcome, then I’m all for it.”
It continues: “But I don’t think staying in session will make more votes appear. We are not going to get a single Democrat to vote for the SAVE America Act no matter how long we are in session. And we have work to do at home to make sure that we beat the Democrats in November.”
One Republican staffer familiar with the document said it sends the message that Senate Republicans support the legislation — but with a caveat.
“The message seems to be that Republicans support the SAVE America Act but are willing to change absolutely nothing, sacrifice no vacations, and threaten no committee seats to move it forward,” the staffer wrote to the Caller. “A strategy that relies on Democrats suddenly doing the right thing is not a strategy.”
The Caller reached out to Senate Republican Conference Chairman Tom Cotton of Arkansas to confirm the document’s authenticity but did not receive a response in time for publication.
The document also addresses the recent public tension between White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Thune following her remarks last Thursday that Trump’s patience was running out with the Senate leader over his handling of the president’s legislative priorities. Leavitt told Daily Caller White House Correspondent Reagan Reese that Trump wanted to “see as much of the SAVE America Act passed as possible by the August recess.”
The document instructs conference members to push back on the idea of a rift between Trump and Thune, emphasizing that the two Republican leaders are “united” and working together to advance the president’s agenda.
“President Trump and Senator Thune are united and doing an excellent job delivering safety and prosperity for Americans, despite unprecedented Democrat obstruction,” the document states.
The talking points highlight Trump and Thune’s cooperation on issues including affordability, border security, and national security. They point to efforts such as ending taxes on tips, eliminating income taxes on Social Security benefits, strengthening the military, securing the border, deporting violent criminals through measures such as the Laken Riley Act, and cracking down on fentanyl trafficking.
Trump says “I haven’t even thought of” the idea of replacing John Thune as Senate GOP leader. Says he has a “good relationship” with Thune but “he’s got to get his job done.” https://t.co/uLxnCcyfJl
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) July 27, 2026
The document also addresses calls from some conservatives to eliminate the Senate filibuster to advance legislation, arguing that Republicans must remain focused on defeating “radical Democrat socialists” rather than changing Senate rules.
The memo instructs senators to argue that eliminating the filibuster would be a long-term mistake that could allow future Democratic majorities to expand federal power, add new states, pack the Supreme Court, and pass their broader agenda.
Asked whether Democrats would eliminate the filibuster anyway, the talking points say Republicans should not give them the opportunity or political cover to do so. Conference leaders instead advise Republican senators to argue that if Democrats choose to eliminate the filibuster, they should own the consequences with voters.
The messaging suggests the party should continue working together to advance Trump’s agenda despite disagreements over legislative strategy.
On Monday, Trump once again called on Thune to advance the GOP election-integrity legislation in a Truth Social post.
“John Thune should not allow the United States Senate to ‘leave town’ until it passes The Save America Act or, far better still, TERMINATES THE FILIBUSTER…” Trump wrote.
The Caller reached out to Thune for comment but did not receive a response.
AUTHOR
Ashley Brasfield
Senior Politics Reporter
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EDITORS NOTE: This Daily Caller column is republished with permission. ©All rights reserved.
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