President Donald Trump's decision to abruptly cancel Wednesday's housing bill signing ceremony drew sharp reaction from within his own party.
Trump announced earlier Wednesday that he was postponing action on the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, his election-integrity proposal requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote and voter identification at the polls.
Read More: Trump Forces SAVE America Act: Housing Bill Now on Hold
The reaction was notable given how much work Republicans put into getting the bill across the finish line. The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support after months of negotiations between the House and Senate and was widely viewed as the most significant housing package to clear Congress in years. Supporters say the bill would increase housing supply, encourage zoning reform, expand manufactured housing opportunities, and place new limits on large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes.
Not everyone in the GOP took it in stride. Capitol Hill reporter Andrew Desiderio reported that one senior Senate Republican aide reacted bluntly:
Senior Senate GOP aide on Trump abruptly canceling signing ceremony for housing bill:
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 24, 2026
“We saw glimpses of this during Trump’s first administration, but never in my lifetime have I seen a president so deliberately attempt to lose majorities for his own party.”
"We saw glimpses of this during Trump's first administration, but never in my lifetime have I seen a president so deliberately attempt to lose majorities for his own party," the aide said.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (AR-02), one of the bill's chief architects, was more measured.
Rep. French Hill on President Trump canceling the signing of the housing bill:
— Em Luetkemeyer (@em_luetkemeyer) June 24, 2026
“The president chose, for a reason known to him about what's going on in the Senate, chosen to delay the signing while he meets with the Senate and works on some other priorities,” Hill said. “That's…
Rep. French Hill on President Trump canceling the signing of the housing bill:
“The president chose, for a reason known to him about what's going on in the Senate, chosen to delay the signing while he meets with the Senate and works on some other priorities,” Hill said. “That's fully in his prerogative to do that. I don't find that personally offensive. I'm telling you what we've done is work for 10 months to find a bicameral bipartisan place where you get super majorities in the House and Senate to pass a bill that I think, from an economic policy view, does follow the administration's goals.”
A short time later, Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) was asked about Trump's decision during a House Republican leadership press conference. Johnson said he had spoken with Trump for roughly 20 minutes before addressing House Republicans earlier in the day.
Speaker Mike Johnson on President Trump cancelling the Housing bill signing over the SAVE America Act: “We passed it three times in the House... It has been stuck in the Senate... He's laser-focused on the SAVE America Act... you have to put it under reconciliation bill.”…
— America (@america) June 24, 2026
Johnson made clear that Trump is focused on the SAVE America Act.
"That is the top priority, because if you do not have safe elections in this grand experiment in self-governance that we have in a constitutional republic, you don't have anything," Johnson said. "We have to ensure it. We have to press for election integrity measures. That's why we've made it a top priority."
Johnson noted that House Republicans have already passed the SAVE America Act multiple times, but said Senate Democrats have blocked it at every turn. With no path through regular order, Johnson said Republicans are eyeing reconciliation as the only viable route.
He also pushed back on any suggestion that the housing bill is dead.
"The housing bill is a great product," Johnson said. "We're addressing the affordability problem in housing. When interest rates are high and costs are high, it makes the barrier to entry so high that young families can't get into houses anymore."
Johnson made clear the delay is strategic, not a veto threat.
"He has a window of time before he has to sign a bill, and he's going to use a little bit more of that window of time, and we're going to go through this together."
Asked whether the president would still sign the measure, Johnson responded:
"So, 10 days is my estimation. He'll do within that 10-day window."
Johnson's comments amounted to a public assurance that the bill is still expected to become law.
For now, the housing bill sits in limbo while Trump turns up the pressure on Senate Republicans to move the SAVE America Act. Whether that pressure campaign changes any votes remains an open question.
Editor's Note: The Democrats are doing everything in their power to undermine the integrity of our elections.
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