'Not on the same page': Fox News reporter bursts Trump’s MAGA bubble

A Fox News reporter on Monday burst President Donald Trump's bubble on the contentious SAVE America Act, reporting that he and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are "not on the same page" when it comes to the math for getting the bill passed.

Trump has demanded that Republicans in Congress make the bill their "no. 1 priority" and has pledged not to sign anything else until it is done. The bill would mostly focus on addressing the president's long-debunked claims about widespread voter fraud from non-citizens by requiring proof of citizenship to register and photo IDs at polling places. The bill, in its current form, would also eliminate virtually all mail-in voting and create new hurdles for women who changed their name after marriage.

It is those provisions and more that have GOP leaders in the Senate unsure about the SAVE Act's chances of passing in the chamber. Trump and his MAGA allies have pushed for Thune to alter filibuster rules to invoke a "talking filibuster," which would require Democrats, who are lockstep in their opposition to the bill, to speak continuously on the floor to prevent it from passing with a simple majority. Otherwise, the bill is currently stalled, with no chance of overcoming the 60-vote legislative filibuster limit.

On Monday, Chad Pegram, Fox News' chief congressional correspondent, discussed the tough situation with host Stuart Varney during a Fox Business segment, noting that Trump has also insisted that the Senate forgo an upcoming recess until the SAVE Act has passed.

"He even wants Senate Majority Leader John Thune to single out Republicans who are opposed to the legislation," Pegram said. "Mike Lee of Utah wants to forgo the Easter recess. ... Backers of the bill believe they can wear everyone out and pass the bill with a simple majority. The Senate blocked a plan over the weekend to attach to the bill a prohibition on men competing in women's sports."

He continued: "Republicans contend elections are not secure, even though every major study says voter fraud is extremely rare... Now, President Trump demands that Republicans eliminate the filibuster to pass the bill, but it's about the math. Thune says the Senate lacks the votes to nuke the filibuster. He and the president are not on the same page."