Trump to meet House speaker in attempt to break legislative gridlock – US politics live

Donald Trump met with House Speaker Mike Johnson on July 12, 2024, in an effort to resolve legislative gridlock concerning a bipartisan housing bill. Trump had previously halted the bill's signing, demanding the Senate pass his voter ID legislation. This voter ID bill, known as the Save America Act, had passed the House but faced opposition in the Senate, where it was unlikely to overcome the filibuster. Johnson had proposed attaching a grant program related to the housing bill to a GOP reconciliation package, a maneuver that could potentially bypass the filibuster. Johnson informed Trump that this might be the only viable path for the legislation. However, concerns were raised that the Save America Act's core components—voter ID, proof of citizenship, and mail-in ballot regulations—could not be included in a reconciliation package, suggesting that this approach would not fully achieve election integrity goals. The Senate adjourned for a 19-day recess on July 13, 2024, with Senator Thune securing unanimous consent for the adjournment, meaning no senator objected. Johnson stated he would not allow the House floor to reopen until the Senate returned to Washington, criticizing the Senate's decision to go on recess before the July 4th holiday.