Senate 'desperate' to pass bill Trump bragged of at SOTU — but he's lost interest: report
President Donald Trump has seemingly lost interest in one of his signature affordability proposals as he focuses his attention on a voter verification measure, according to a report Wednesday.
The 79-year-old president has remained largely silent on a bipartisan housing bill that has stalled in Congress, highlighting a mismatch between his stated affordability priorities and political action. The White House isn't sure the electoral juice is worth the squeeze, reported Politico.
“The political shop is feeling the pressure, and they’re grasping at any straw that comes their way,” said one source close to the White House. "In this particular case, Thune is right, you’re going to have to go and twist arms in the House for a bill that no one gives a s--t about.”
Trump has been virtually silent on the marquee housing bill containing his proposal to restrict institutional investors from purchasing homes. Senate Majority Leader John Thune requested Trump's assistance pushing the Senate bill through the House, a request Trump appears not to have answered.
The White House has issued no strategy to advance the housing legislation beyond demanding it pass in its original form, Politico reported.
White House officials initially supported the institutional investor ban, which Trump highlighted in his State of the Union address just three weeks ago, as part of a broad affordability push ahead of midterm elections. But some allies now question whether it's worth spending much political capital to get the bill passed.
“It’s a great talking point – and I get that part,” the source added. "[But] nobody is sitting around saying, ‘Finally, I can buy my first home because now institutional investors can’t buy up homes.’ That’s not what the barrier to entry is.”
House conservatives oppose the ban, arguing it will discourage corporate housing investment and reduce supply. Housing experts identify interest rates, limited supply, and construction costs as primary affordability barriers — not institutional investors.
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso expressed hope that Trump would intervene with House members to resolve interchamber disputes over the legislation, but no such intervention has materialized.
“I’m hoping he does weigh in with the House members to get this accomplished so he can sign it quickly into law," Barrasso said.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle disputed suggestions Trump isn't focused on housing, citing recent executive orders cutting regulatory red tape for builders and directing mortgage agencies to purchase securities lowering interest rates.
Trump pollster John McLaughlin argued the housing bill could help build electoral coalitions among younger voters. However, without presidential pressure, the bipartisan measure remains stalled as Trump directs his political capital toward the SAVE America Act.
“They’re desperate to do something," said Tobias Peter, co-director of the American Enterprise Institute’s Housing Center, “and the same in the Senate. They’re just desperate to pass something.”