WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend a Republican Senate party luncheon in the Capitol on Wednesday. Republican senators stated on Tuesday that they hope the closed-door meeting will focus on unity.

Senator Thom Tillis stated on Tuesday that he hopes the meeting will be conciliatory. President Trump has pushed the Senate to eliminate the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, which would create requirements for voters to prove citizenship and show voter ID. He has also demanded that a ban on mail-in ballots be added to the voting bill, along with provisions to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors and to prevent people born as men from playing in women's sports.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune stated on Tuesday that passing the voting bill without eliminating the filibuster is not realistic. He indicated that he hopes the meeting is about sitting down as a family and celebrating time before the election. Thune said, "Those are just hard realities." He added, "And I think people at some point have to come to grips with that."

Senator Rick Scott extended the invitation to President Trump without informing Thune. Scott leads the Senate Republican lunch every Wednesday. Scott stated that he believes President Trump will be positive during the meeting. "He's going to be very positive," Scott said. He added, "There's a lot that we can brag about that we've accomplished, and he wants to figure out how we can win November and continue to fulfill his agenda."

Scott sent a letter to Republican colleagues on Monday arguing that the Senate should take weekly votes on the SAVE America Act. "We need to show voters that we are listening to them and will fight for their priorities whether any Democrats vote with us or not," Scott said. Senator Mike Lee has posted daily on X advocating for eliminating the filibuster to pass the voting bill.

Republican senators, including Texas Senator John Cornyn, confronted Lee about his advocacy at a closed-door lunch last week. "The push to pass the SAVE America Act is not a 'fantasy,'" Lee said. "It's a plan to avoid a nightmare — one that's coming soon unless we act." Thune stated that it is Lee's prerogative to post on social media. He further stated, "And sometimes the alternative universe that is X doesn't reflect the facts on the ground."

President Trump has blocked Senate Republicans from confirming one of his nominees in the last month and has asked Senate Republicans to fund parts of his White House ballroom project. He endorsed primary challengers against Senator Cornyn and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy. President Trump stated in a social media post that he would not sign a renewal of a key surveillance law unless Senate Republicans attach the SAVE America Act. Last week, President Trump announced on social media that he was delaying Jay Clayton's nomination to become national intelligence director; Bill Pulte is currently his interim pick for the position.