Trump calls on Thune to fire Senate parliamentarian to pass SAVE America Act
Trump urged Thune to remove the Senate parliamentarian so Republicans could advance the SAVE America Act.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Yahoo News, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
Yahoo News is an established national news publisher, and this article is attributed to a named reporter. The page’s signals indicate the reporting originated with The Hill and was republished, so the underlying reporting and Yahoo’s publication practices are relevant but distinct.
- Source type — An established national news publisher, supporting a relatively strong baseline.
- Author attribution — The article identifies Alexander Bolton as its author.
- Transparency — The page includes Nexstar copyright language and points readers to The Hill, indicating an identifiable publishing origin.
- Editorial standards — The text is a reported article with attributed statements, though the page itself provides limited information about corrections practices.
The article gives direct quotations, identifies the relevant Senate procedure, and reports the positions and actions of several senators. It offers limited response from the parliamentarian or opposing lawmakers and does not provide vote tallies or much additional context.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The report includes Trump’s argument, the parliamentarian’s procedural ruling, Thune’s objections, and Republican votes against the motions. It does not include a direct response from MacDonough or a broader account of arguments for and against the bill.
- Counterarguments presented — Thune’s concerns and the opposing Republican votes provide some counterpoint to Trump’s demand.
- Source diversity — The article relies heavily on quoted statements from Trump and Thune and provides no direct comment from MacDonough.
- Loaded language — Inflammatory language appears in Trump’s attributed posts rather than in the reporter’s narration.
- Omitted context — The article gives a brief explanation of the Byrd Rule but little detail about competing arguments over the bill.
The article reports Trump’s criticism and Thune’s prior resistance in largely descriptive language, without adopting either position. Its selection of quotes and procedural context does not establish a discernible partisan lean.
- Language tone — Mostly neutral reporting language; charged phrasing appears in attributed quotations.
- Source selection — Includes Trump’s demand and Thune’s earlier response, as well as the actions of senators who opposed the motions.
- Framing — Frames the story around Trump’s call and the Senate’s procedural response without endorsing either.
Republished with credit
Republished from The Hill, with credit to the original publisher.
254 stories · 78–79 · updated Oct 6, 2026
This is The Hill's own score, and this article is credited to The Hill. The host score in the Source Check is Yahoo News's.
Donald Trump urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to remove the Senate parliamentarian so Republicans could advance the SAVE America Act. The article describes the parliamentarian’s ruling against including the bill in budget reconciliation and earlier resistance from some Republicans to Trump’s demands.
Trump called on Thune to fire Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, arguing that she was blocking passage of the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship to register to vote and photo identification to cast a ballot. MacDonough ruled that the measure did not comply with the Byrd Rule for legislation included in budget reconciliation. Motions by Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee to proceed despite the budgetary objections fell short of the votes needed.
The article says Thune has repeatedly resisted Trump’s earlier calls to replace the parliamentarian. Thune previously warned that doing so could make Senate management harder, as some Republicans viewed it as damaging to the Senate’s traditions. Trump also criticized MacDonough’s past appointment and former majority leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to keep her in the role.
Community verdict
VOTING CLOSEDNo good or bad look here
This story reports what happened without casting Thune in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Thune’s record.
People in this story
SWIPE →Senate Majority Leader whom Trump urged to remove the parliamentarian
President urging Thune to fire the Senate parliamentarian
Trump's version of this story ↗Senator who sought 60 votes to waive budgetary objections
Senator who voted against Graham’s motion
Former Senate majority leader criticized by Trump for leaving MacDonough in place
Senator who voted against Graham’s motion
Senator who voted against Graham’s motion
Senator who sought 60 votes to waive budgetary objections
Part of a bigger story
5 OUTLETSOutlets agree that Trump urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune to fire Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, and Thune did not follow the demand. Center outlets emphasize Trump's push to remove her to advance the SAVE America Act and Thune's response. Right-leaning outlets frame the dispute around claims that her rulings or Senate resistance are blocking the act, while differing in how they portray Thune.
- ARTICLES
- 5
- OUTLETS
- 5
- AVG CRED
- 54
- World Tribune: U.S. Politics and Culture, Geostrategy, China, North Korea, Corporate Watch, Media Watch · Fire 'nasty' parliamentarian? No; The Senate is part of 'a club,' and the president's not in it – World Tribune: U.S. Politics and Culture, Geostrategy, China, North Korea, Corporate Watch, Media Watch
- townhall.com · Trump Wants the Senate Parliamentarian Axed. Here's A Look Inside That Debate.
- redstate.com · Trump Puts Thune on the Ropes Over 'Nasty' Parliamentarian As SAVE America Act Showdown Explodes
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