Trump Backs Linking FISA Tools to Voter ID Bill

President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that he might leverage the future of U.S. national security surveillance tools to advance a Republican-backed voter identification bill that has stalled in Congress.

Aboard Air Force One, Trump responded to questions regarding efforts by Republican Representative Anna Paulina Luna from Florida. She suggested using the discussions around the expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to push through the SAVE America Act, which she brought up during a recent interview.

A Daily Caller reporter inquired, “Mr. President, do you agree with Anna Paulina Luna’s proposal to link the SAVE America Act to the FISA update?”

Trump spoke highly of Luna, saying, “I think she’s wonderful. I would love to see her.” He underscored the significance of the SAVE America Act, calling it crucial to democracy by emphasizing voter ID requirements and criteria like place of birth.

The President also highlighted the bill’s provisions regarding “transgender maiming,” particularly concerning participation in minors and women’s sports.

He mentioned, “Additionally, there will be no mail-in voting for non-military individuals, regardless of whether they are sick, out of town, or disabled. It’s actually quite generous, but there’s tremendous fraud in mail-in voting. Hence, there’ll be no mail-in voting with those exceptions.”

Trump’s remarks followed the Senate’s recent passage of a short-term extension for Section 702 of FISA, which will remain active until April 30, allowing lawmakers time to negotiate a comprehensive deal. Republican hardliners are reportedly impeding progress in discussions concerning the section’s regulations, including warrant requirements and restrictions on data brokers selling information to the government.

Despite facing scrutiny regarding FISA in his first presidential campaign due to a now-discredited document, Trump showed support this week for extending the provision. He expressed readiness to forgo personal rights for the continuation of the program.

“I am willing to risk my rights and privileges as a citizen for the sake of our great military and nation! Our military patriots desperately need FISA 702, and it is one of the reasons we have had such great success on the battlefield,” he stated on Truth Social.