Trump ups the stakes for GOP in voter ID law fight

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June 24, 2026 | By Cate Martel

Today in DC: ☀️ 77°  View Online  |  Sign up

It’s Wednesday. There is So. Much. Happening. In Washington today. Let’s get right into it.

Trump abruptly cancels bill signing

Trump abruptly cancels bill signing

Holds housing bill over his controversial voter ID bill

Holds housing bill over his controversial voter ID bill

NYT obtained govt docs rebutting Trump’s pool vandalism claims

NYT obtained govt docs rebutting Trump’s pool vandalism claims

Trump fumes after Congress passes rare Iran rebuke

Trump fumes after Congress passes rare Iran rebuke

Mamdani’s candidates rock NY primaries

Mamdani’s candidates rock NY primaries

Trump is holding the housing bill hostage:

Mark Schiefelbein, Associated Press

President Trump abruptly canceled today’s scheduled signing of a popular, bipartisan housing affordability bill late this morning, putting Republicans in an incredibly tough spot. He now says he won’t sign it until lawmakers pass his voter ID bill into law.

The timing is remarkable: House Republicans were literally onstage touting the housing bill when Trump nixed today’s bill signing.

📸 Statuary Hall was all set up and ready for the bill signing 📸 Another angle

This puts Republicans in an awkward spot: Affordability has been a top concern among voters — and Republicans are desperately trying to focus on the economy, despite the president’s focus on Iran and pet projects.  This bill was Republicans’ answer to the economic turbulence. It is aimed at helping lower housing prices, after all.

But now, when Republicans leave Washington to talk to voters for the next two weeks, they may not have this law to celebrate.

Reactions have been rolling in:

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he still expects Trump to sign the housing bill within 10 days.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) says he still expects Trump to sign the housing bill within 10 days.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) called the Republican Senate “a big hot mess,” saying his GOP colleagues have been “embarrassed and blindsided by Trump” by today’s abrupt bill signing cancellation.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) called the Republican Senate “a big hot mess,” saying his GOP colleagues have been “embarrassed and blindsided by Trump” by today’s abrupt bill signing cancellation.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune (S.D.) wouldn’t comment on the cancellation. “At this point, I don’t have any observations about that,” he told reporters.

Senate Republican Leader John Thune (S.D.) wouldn’t comment on the cancellation. “At this point, I don’t have any observations about that,” he told reporters.

Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says, “You can’t make this stuff up. We could all laugh, except this is really serious … this is really serious for people looking to buy a home, for renters.”

Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) says,........

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