Full Breakdown
President Trump Calls for Removal of Senate Parliamentarian Amid Push to Pass Save America Act
5/21/2026, 5:24:41 AM
Trump Calls for Removal of Senate Parliamentarian
President Donald Trump used Truth Social on May 20, 2026, to demand that Senate Republicans fire Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough, accusing her of being “brutal to Republicans” and saying her rulings block the Save America Act and a $1 billion White House ballroom funding.
Parliamentarian’s Role and the Byrd Rule
MacDonough, appointed in 2012, serves in a nonpartisan advisory capacity, deciding whether provisions meet the Byrd Rule for budget reconciliation, which allows passage with a simple 51-vote majority instead of the 60-vote filibuster threshold.
Legislative Stakes
The Save America Act proposes voter-ID and documentary proof of citizenship requirements; supporters aim to advance it via reconciliation. MacDonough ruled that the $1 billion ballroom earmark failed the Byrd Rule, preventing its inclusion.
Republican Leadership Responses
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he has not discussed firing MacDonough, warned that removal would create vote-count problems, and expressed concern about her becoming a security target. Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville publicly called for her immediate dismissal.
Conflicting Accounts of MacDonough’s Appointment
Most reports state MacDonough was appointed in 2012 by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid; one source adds former President Barack Obama as an appointing authority, creating a discrepancy.
Implications and Next Steps
If Trump’s pressure leads to a change in the parliamentarian’s office, it could alter how reconciliation is applied and affect future attempts to modify the filibuster. Thune’s refusal to act suggests the issue will remain a point of intra-party debate as Republicans consider procedural reforms. The debate raises questions about the independence of nonpartisan staff in the Senate's partisan conflict.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Over the years, she has been brutal to Republicans, but not so to the Dumocrats — So why has she not been replaced? There are many fair people who would be qualified for that vital job,” — Donald Trump, President (Truth Social)
- “kill the Filibuster, which would give us everything!” — Donald Trump, President (Truth Social)
- “And, likewise, kill the Filibuster, which would give us everything! If we don’t pass at least one of these two provisions quickly, you will never see another Republican President again.” — Donald Trump, President (Truth Social)
- “Unelected bureaucrats think they know better than U.S. Congressmen who are elected BY THE PEOPLE. Her job is not to push a woke agenda. THE SENATE PARLIAMENTARIAN SHOULD BE FIRED ASAP,” — Tommy Tuberville, U.S. Senator (X)
- “Obviously, it’s concerning when anybody gets targeted like that. But it’s, I guess, his opinion,” — John Thune, Senate Majority Leader (press remarks)
- “There may be some issues related to the parliamentarian but most of the issues we have here are votes.” — John Thune, Senate Majority Leader (press remarks)
