President Donald Trump said the need for the SAVE America Act has become even greater following a closely divided Supreme Court decision allowing states to continue counting certain mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day.
Speaking after signing executive orders, Trump was asked by Townhall reporter Cameron Arcand for his reaction to the Court’s ruling and what it meant for the future of the SAVE America Act. Trump criticized the decision, arguing that it undermines election integrity and increases the importance of additional federal election safeguards.
“Because of the mail-in ballot ruling — which was a little bit surprising, gives people more time to vote illegally — the SAVE Act is even more important,” Trump said. “You have to be a citizen of our country, okay, you have to show you’re a citizen of our country, called citizenship.”
Trump also reiterated his support for requiring photo identification to vote and limiting mail-in voting to specific circumstances.
“Voter ID by photo, photo voter ID, and no mail-in ballots — unless you’re in the military, disabled, you’re ill, or you’re away even on a vacation, we’re being very open about it,” he said. “It’s pretty easy, and we’ll have honest elections.”
The president described the Supreme Court’s decision as disappointing.
Trump explains why the SAVE America Act is even MORE crucial after today’s SCOTUS ruling:
“Because of the mail-in ballot ruling, which was a little surprising, gives people more time to vote illegally. The SAVE Act is even more important […] The ruling, which a lot of people… pic.twitter.com/HkntyRyEDX
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 29, 2026
“The ruling, which a lot of people were waiting for, that was a ruling that was — I think it was very detrimental to honest elections,” Trump said. “But it is what it is.”
The comments followed a 5-4 Supreme Court decision holding that federal law does not prohibit states from counting mail-in ballots that are mailed on or before Election Day but received after the polls close, provided state law allows that practice.
According to the Court’s majority opinion, post-Election Day receipt of ballots does not, by itself, conflict with federal election statutes establishing a uniform Election Day.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
“Two principles are important here,” the Court wrote. “First, post-election day receipt, considered on its own, does not conflict with the election-day statutes.”
The decision leaves intact laws in states that permit election officials to count ballots arriving after Election Day if they were timely mailed. Election procedures regarding ballot deadlines continue to vary from state to state, with some requiring ballots to be received by the close of polls and others accepting ballots received days later if they meet postmark requirements.
Trump’s renewed emphasis on the SAVE America Act comes just days after he announced he was postponing a planned signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act until the Senate takes up the election legislation.
Supporters of the SAVE America Act argue the measure would strengthen confidence in federal elections by requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and implementing additional election security measures. Opponents contend that existing safeguards are sufficient and have raised concerns that new documentation requirements could create obstacles for eligible voters.
