Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is facing a firestorm from the MAGA coalition after revealing his apparent lack of a serious strategy to push the SAVE America Act through the Senate. The bill, which would implement in-person voting requirements, voter ID verification, and protect the integrity of American elections, has broad public support—but Thune’s hesitant leadership is drawing sharp criticism.

On Tuesday, March 24, Thune held a press conference to address the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, now in its 39th day due to Democratic obstruction. Airports across the country remain strained, TSA agents are overworked and underpaid, and the public is frustrated. Thune’s remarks, however, failed to reassure conservatives that the GOP is prepared to act.

“Shamefully, we are on day 39 of the Democrat shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security,” Thune said. “It is increasingly having effects across the country, as our airports and the TSA agents become more and more overrun. So it is time to end this. The time to end this is now. The Democrats have in front of them a proposal, with legislative text, that would allow us to get DHS back and opened up again, and it is essentially what the Democrats have been asking for.”

While he called on Democrats to “put their money where their mouth is” and vote to reopen DHS, it was Thune’s discussion of the SAVE America Act that truly triggered outrage among MAGA voters.

“On the other issue, the SAVE America Act now has been on the floor for some time,” Thune said. “There is overwhelming public support among and across all kinds of demographic groups, age, political party, gender—you name it. Democrats have publicly supported voter ID. Well, we’re going to give them an opportunity to evidence that by putting it up for a vote.”

Thune detailed attempts to advance a voter ID amendment, noting that a proposal by Senator Husted of Ohio was blocked by Democrats. Even more egregious to conservatives, Oregon Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley introduced a counterproposal explicitly banning voter ID nationwide—a provision already implemented in 36 states.

“So this is an issue on which there is broad agreement with the public, and obviously we’re going to give the Democrats an opportunity to vote on that one particular issue—whether or not people ought to have to show some form of identification when they go to vote,” Thune said.

But it was Thune’s admission about his backup plan—or lack thereof—that truly set MAGA activists off. When asked if failing to pass the SAVE America Act risked alienating the base, Thune essentially admitted he doesn’t have a fully formed strategy beyond the uncertain route of budget reconciliation.

“I think the budget reconciliation, as I’ve said before, you have to have a reason to do it, and if we have reasons to do it, and we may, very well may,” Thune said. “We just came out of a luncheon where this was discussed, and I think there’s a lot of support for budget reconciliation bill. We have two legislative vehicles…so we could tee one of those up, and that’s an option, and we’ll see if that’s what it takes to get some of these things across the finish line.”

The response online was merciless. Conservative commentators and voters on X (formerly Twitter) tore into the Majority Leader, accusing him of failing the MAGA base. Patriot Oasis posted the clip with the caption, “Leader John Thune says he hasn’t even TIRED or prepared a BACK-UP plan to pass the SAVE America Act.” Wall Street Mav added, “Senator Thune’s career is over. He won’t be Majority Leader next year. He is up for re-election in South Dakota in 2028.”

Commenters unleashed their fury, calling Thune everything from “lazy bastard” to “useless RINO” and “a Democrat plant in the Republican Party.” Many warned that he would face a MAGA-backed primary challenger in 2028, and that his inaction had already betrayed voters who elected Republicans to defend election integrity.

“All of these senators must be replaced,” one user wrote. “Not only will he not be Majority Leader, but in 2028 he will face a MAGA-primaried candidate, and we will end his political career. Are you listening, @LeaderJohnThune?”

Conservative activists argue that Thune’s hesitancy undermines the Republican majority and squanders the broad public support for measures like voter ID and in-person voting. Meanwhile, Democrats continue to block progress, even on legislation with overwhelming bipartisan backing, while Thune’s lack of a decisive plan leaves the base frustrated and angry.

As MAGA activists make clear, Americans want results. They want the SAVE America Act passed, DHS reopened, and election integrity preserved. With the 2028 midterms looming, Senate Republicans like Thune are under intense pressure: either deliver on the promises voters care about, or risk being replaced by leaders who will.

The message from conservatives is clear: the time for cautious, indecisive leadership is over. The American people expect bold action—and if Thune can’t deliver, the MAGA base will find someone who can.