WATCH: Markwayne Mullin Defends RINO John Thune, Says Senate Doesn’t Have Enough Votes to Terminate Filibuster * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan Conradson
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin delivers press briefing on foreign election interference and illegal voting – July 17, 2026
DHS Secretary and former Senator Markwayne Mullin on Friday defended RINO Senate Leader John Thune’s refusal to terminate the Senate filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act.
“John is a good friend of mine,” Mullin said before defending him while noting that he doesn’t believe there are talks about removing Thune from Senate Leadership.
During a press conference on the massive voter fraud that Trump revealed last night in an address to the nation, Mullin was asked by Real America’s Voice’s Neil McCabe if there are talks amongst Republican Senators if Thune refuses or can’t figure out how to pass the SAVE America Act.
This comes as the Department of Homeland Security reveals that nearly 300,000 foreigners are illegally registered to vote in only a handful of states that shared data with the federal government, making the voter ID bill even more critical.
“I think the Save Act should be passed tomorrow. I think it should have already been passed. There’s no excuse for it not being passed,” Mullin responded before making an excuse for Thune’s lack of leadership.
“However, he has a vote problem. There’s a number. Leader Thune supports the Save Act,” Mullin said.
He went on to note that the Senate only had 49 votes the last time that the SAVE Act was voted on, adding, “Even if we did away with the filibuster, it still requires 51.”
This means just one vote would be needed to reach 50, and JD Vance could come in as the tiebreaker. But Thune refuses to whip up the votes.
President Trump has previously called Thune out for being a weak leader and “playing it too soft.”
“He’s only a couple of votes short, but that’s what being a leader is,” Trump said of Thune’s claim that he doesn’t have the votes to nuke the filibuster in March. “That’s part of being a leader. You have to get the votes.”
Still, Mullin claimed, “I know Leader Thune is working hard on that, but he’s got a very very difficult task ahead.”
Mullin: I haven’t heard that at all from the Senate saying they’re going, they’re willing to vote John out. John is a good friend of mine. He’s a good friend of most people in there. Now there’s a difference of opinion. I think the Save Act should be passed tomorrow. I think it should have already been passed. There’s no excuse for it not being passed.
However, he has a vote problem. There’s a number. Leader Thune supports the Save Act. He voted for the Save Act when it came up during the votorama, except everybody controls their own card, and even I think the last time the vote came up, there was 49 that voted. Even if we did away with the filibuster, it still requires 51. So, I know Leader Thune is working hard on that, but he’s got a very very difficult task ahead.
As The Gateway Pundit reported, Thune told reporters that he doesn’t think the SAVE America Act will pass in the Senate on Wednesday, the same day the House passed the legislation for a third time. He blamed Democrats for his refusal to take the action necessary.
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Jordan Conradson
Jordan Conradson is The Gateway Pundit's White House correspondent. Jordan has played a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption in Arizona's elections and elected officials. His reporting on election crimes in Maricopa County led to the resignation of one election official, and he was later banned from the Maricopa County press room for his courage in pursuit of the truth. TGP and Jordan finally gained access after suing Maricopa County, America's fourth largest county, and winning at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Conradson looks forward to bringing his aggressive style of journalism to the Swamp.
You can email Jordan Conradson here, and read more of Jordan Conradson's articles here.
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