President Donald Trump downplayed pressure to sign a bipartisan housing bill Monday, arguing that it’s “unimportant compared to the SAVE America Act.”
Affordability remains a top issue heading into November’s midterm elections, and while the president has seen national gas prices decrease in recent weeks following a ceasefire in the Iran war, he’s also made a number of statements that have already been seized on by Democrats arguing that Trump isn’t focused enough on inflation and the economy.
Last week, Trump delayed signing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a bill aimed at lowering housing costs, into law until the Senate passes his endorsed election integrity bill and sends it to his desk.
He stood firm in his ploy Monday while fielding questions in the Oval Office. Trump, claiming he knows more about housing than any other president, told reporters that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had not yet transmitted the housing bill to the White House but reaffirmed his prioritization of the SAVE America Act over bipartisan legislation.
A spokesperson for Johnson confirmed to the Washington Examiner that the speaker sent the bill to the White House, kickstarting a 10-day process for the bill to become law if Trump does not act on it.
“It’s so unimportant compared to the SAVE America. I think the SAVE America is exactly what it says. It’s saving America from crooked elections, and the housing bill is a bill that can get approved. They worked on it long and hard. It’s very bipartisan. That means the Democrats like it,” he stated. “Compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn.”
Trump made those comments while signing a presidential memorandum aimed at lowering costs for car owners and breaking up a “monopoly” on third-party aftermarket auto parts.
Watch Trump’s comments from Monday:
Lauren Green contributed to this report.