Republican rebellion reaches fever pitch after Anna Paulina Luna move

Representative Anna Paulina Luna has put herself at odds with some fellow Republicans — and with President Donald Trump — after vowing to block House legislation until the contentious SAVE America Act moves forward.

Trump pushed back Thursday afternoon in a post on Truth Social, urging GOP lawmakers to fall in line and warning them against derailing procedural votes.

“House Republicans should unify, and stop voting down ‘Rules’ or, threatening to do so,” Trump wrote, adding that handing Democrats influence over what reaches the House floor would only hurt Republican priorities. “No more grandstanding, please!”

His message came shortly after he met with House Speaker Mike Johnson at the White House earlier Thursday.

Luna has said she would back off her blockade if her amendment tied to the SAVE America Act receives consideration.

The SAVE America Act would require voters to present documents such as a passport, birth certificate or REAL ID in order to cast a ballot, while forms of identification like student IDs and utility bills would not be accepted.

Although the measure advanced in a procedural test vote in March with a simple majority, it would need 60 votes to pass.

With Republicans holding only a narrow Senate majority, the proposal is widely seen as unlikely to survive in the upper chamber.

Republican Representative from Florida, Anna Paulina Luna, attends a dinner in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, in September of 2025

Republican Representative from Florida, Anna Paulina Luna, attends a dinner in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, DC, in September of 2025

Tennessee Republican Chuck Fleischmann told the Daily Mail that, 'respectfully, [he] disagreed with' Luna's approach

Tennessee Republican Chuck Fleischmann told the Daily Mail that, ‘respectfully, [he] disagreed with’ Luna’s approach

Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert told the Daily Mail that she was 'absolutely supportive of holding the line and not opening the House floor'

Colorado Republican Lauren Boebert told the Daily Mail that she was ‘absolutely supportive of holding the line and not opening the House floor’

On Wednesday, Trump canceled a planned signing of a bipartisan housing affordability bill, saying he will not approve it until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, an election measure he has labeled a ‘National Emergency.’ 

The shock move left the housing bill in limbo and put pressure on Senate Republicans, despite Majority Leader John Thune acknowledging the voting proposal does not have enough GOP support to pass.

Trump traveled to Capitol Hill himself to speak directly to Republican holdouts. And he also got into a shouting match with GOP rebels against his war with Iran.

Four Republicans voted to limit his Iran war powers, and they got an earful from the President himself.

Luna – who is a close Trump ally – said she would ‘not be voting’ to reopen the floor and pass any other bills until the Senate returns to vote on Trump’s signature bill.

Due to the GOP’s tiny majority, Luna has the power to stop legislation from reaching the floor by whipping up votes from her allies to vote ‘no’ on a rule – the crucial step before a bill can be passed.

But Trump disagreed with her approach, writing on Truth Social that Republicans should ‘stop voting down rules or threatening to do so.’ 

House members still have many priorities to vote on, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Farm Bill, and even another stab at budget reconciliation.

Even some of Luna’s House colleagues disagree with her methods, including Tennessee Republican Chuck Fleischmann. 

‘I suffered for that yesterday on the floor, and this week with not being able to get that done. Having said that, any member in our caucus has the right, I think, to pursue the strategies that they deem to be appropriate,’ Fleischmann told the Daily Mail.

North Carolina Republican Tim Moore, who authored his state’s voter ID law, called the SAVE America Act ‘very important’ but warned it shouldn’t crowd out housing, fuel costs, infrastructure and education. 

Indiana’s Erin Houchin echoed that, telling the Daily Mail the bill could pass through reconciliation without sacrificing other priorities.

Indiana Republican Erin Houchin told the Daily Mail that she sees a way to pass the Save America Act through reconciliation

Indiana Republican Erin Houchin told the Daily Mail that she sees a way to pass the Save America Act through reconciliation 

Colorado’s Lauren Boebert backed Luna’s hardball tactics, telling the Daily Mail she is ‘absolutely supportive of holding the line and not opening the House floor.’ She called the Senate’s departure ‘a slap in the face to every single American.’

Luna defended her approach, telling the Daily Mail the SAVE America Act is ‘an 80/20 issue’ whose supporters will reward members at the midterms. 

‘Being elected to Congress does not mean falling in line,’ she said. ‘The people are with us, the President is with us, and history is on our side,’ also adding, ‘Btw, love those guys. They love me too.’

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