Trump calls bipartisan housing bill ‘a big yawn,’ says it’s ‘so unimportant’ compared to voter ID law
President Trump refused to commit to signing a bipartisan housing bill on Monday, calling it ‘a big yawn’ as he insisted Congress first pass the SAVE America Act imposing new voting restrictions.
The housing bill and its fate
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, designed to boost housing supply through faster environmental reviews, new grants, looser rules for prefabricated housing, and a ban on institutional investors buying single-family homes, passed both chambers with overwhelming bipartisan support. Speaker Mike Johnson sent the bill to the White House on Monday, starting a 10-day clock (excluding Sundays) for the president to sign or veto it. If Trump does nothing, the bill becomes law automatically.
Trump’s priorities: voter ID over housing
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump made clear he views the housing measure as secondary to the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register and create a national voter database.
He canceled a signing ceremony for the housing bill last week to pressure Republicans into moving the stalled election-security bill.To me, compared to the Save America Act, just about everything is a big yawn.
When I look at that bill, it’s a bill. But when I look at the SAVE America Act, it’s about saving America.
Economic backdrop and midterm anxiety
The showdown unfolds against a difficult economic landscape. The Consumer Price Index hit 4.2% in May, its highest since April 2023, while Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up fuel and industrial input prices. Polls show Trump struggles to connect with voters on cost-of-living issues, and his recent remarks, including “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation” and calling affordability a “hoax”, have unnerved Republicans facing a tough midterm election.
Timeline of key events
The standoff evolved rapidly over the past week.
- Trump cancels Capitol Hill signing ceremony, demands Senate pass the SAVE America Act first.
- Speaker Mike Johnson announces on Fox News he will transmit the housing bill to the White House on Monday.
- Johnson sends the bill to Trump; in Oval Office remarks, Trump calls it ‘a big yawn’ and refuses to commit to signing.
What happens next
Johnson publicly urged Trump to sign the bill, but the president has not committed. Should he veto it, Congress would need two-thirds majorities to override, a threshold the broad bipartisan support likely could meet. If Trump simply lets the 10-day window expire, the bill becomes law without his signature, delivering a housing package despite his stated disdain.
