Donald Trump has decided that the dream of homeownership is a secondary concern to the mechanics of the ballot box. On Friday, the President announced he will not sign a bipartisan housing bill passed by Congress. He is using the legislation as a blunt instrument to pressure lawmakers over the SAVE America Act.
The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to spur construction and lower costs for families. It is slated to become law this Saturday unless Trump chooses to veto it. The President told social media he will not sign it in protest because the Senate is not capable of passing the SAVE Act.
The SAVE America Act would introduce new measures to prevent noncitizens from voting in federal elections. According to Fox News, the bill currently lacks enough Republican support to pass. Trump has repeatedly demanded that his party make it a top priority before the November midterms.
The President has been dismissive of the housing crisis. Last month, he called the bipartisan bill a yawn and so unimportant compared to requiring proof of citizenship for voters. He wrote on social media that the failure to pass the SAVE Act is crazy and a serious threat to any politician who opposes it.
Democratic leaders have reacted with fury. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X that Trump’s priorities are higher costs for families and more power for himself. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries added that Republicans would rather make it harder to vote than easier to afford a home.
The timing is particularly sharp. The National Association of Realtors reported on Thursday that the median home price hit an all-time high of $440,600 in June. This represents a 1.8 per cent increase from a year ago, according to the report.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that wage growth is currently outpacing price growth. However, Yun warned that long-term affordability will be hampered if inventory growth stalls. He stated it is critical to introduce more supply to the market to widen homeownership opportunities.
The White House referred all queries to the President’s social media posts. Under the U.S. Constitution, the bill becomes law on Saturday if Trump does not issue a formal veto. This creates a narrow window for a final political showdown before the weekend.
