President Donald Trump evoked the threat of a “communist menace in our land” on Friday to push Republican lawmakers to pass his SAVE America Act and end the filibuster, promising them election wins for the next century if they do.
“America will never be a communist country. We can only lose the midterms if we allow ourselves to lose the midterms, if we are foolish, stupid and unwise,” Trump said in front of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota. “But if we terminate the filibuster as we should do and immediately vote for the SAVE America Act, then we will not lose an election for 100 years.”
The president has been urging Republicans to end the filibuster for months, causing a greater divide in the party. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has said, “The votes aren’t there, one, to nuke the filibuster, and the votes aren’t there for a talking filibuster.”
“We do that, we’re not going to lose an election for 100 years,” Trump said before going on an anti-communist tangent.
“The Communist Party is made up of illegal immigrants, criminals, and everybody that doesn’t want to work. Communism is a loser. It always was, and it is right now,” Trump said. “It’s a big loser. Look at the people that are promoting it. They are not the people you’re going to follow.”