LIV Golf star Phil Mickelson engaged in a heated exchange with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the controversial Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act.
According to Fox News, Mickelson labeled Schumer a "traitor" on social media after the Democratic leader criticized the Republican-backed legislation that would require in-person proof of citizenship for federal election voter registration.
The SAVE Act, which was recently passed in the House with a 220-208 vote, aims to implement stricter voter registration requirements and remove non-citizens from voter rolls. The legislation now faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where it needs Democratic support to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold for advancement.
During his speech on Wednesday, Schumer strongly condemned the legislation, comparing it to Jim Crow laws and describing it as "dangerous." He emphasized the Democratic party's united opposition to the bill, declaring it "dead on arrival" in the Senate.
The Democratic leader expressed concerns about the Trump administration's approach to election security, suggesting that executive orders and Congressional legislation were putting elections in a "vice grip." Schumer argued that such measures undermined democratic principles and fairness in elections.
Schumer stated:
Donald Trump and Republicans are putting our elections in a vice grip — executive orders from the president on one end, and dangerous legislation from Congress on the other. They don't understand the sacredness of elections and keeping them fair. The kind of legislation, the kind of executive orders which are so jaundiced, so slanted on the side of one party, are the antithesis of democracy.
The golfing legend took to social media platform X to voice his strong disagreement with Schumer's position. Mickelson's response reflected his frustration with what he perceived as a threat to election integrity.
In his social media post, Mickelson questioned Schumer's leadership and commitment to American interests. He specifically challenged the idea of allowing non-citizens to participate in American elections.
Mickelson expressed his views in no uncertain terms:
How is this fighting for Americans? How is letting non citizens vote in American elections a good thing? It is NOT. He is not representing America, its citizens nor their best interests. He's a traitor.
The controversy highlights the ongoing national debate about voter registration requirements and election security. The SAVE Act represents a significant legislative effort to modify federal election procedures.
Republicans argue that the legislation is necessary to maintain election integrity and ensure only eligible citizens can vote. Democrats, led by Schumer, contend that such measures create unnecessary barriers to voting and potentially discriminate against certain populations.
The discussion has expanded beyond traditional political boundaries, drawing comments from public figures like Mickelson, who typically focus on their professional domains rather than political matters.
The SAVE Act currently stands at a crucial juncture in Congress, having cleared the House but facing significant opposition in the Senate. The bill's requirement for in-person proof of citizenship and its provisions for removing non-citizens from voter rolls have become focal points of intense debate. Schumer's declaration of the bill being "dead on arrival" in the Senate underscores the partisan divide surrounding election legislation. His leadership role in opposing the measure suggests a challenging path forward for the SAVE Act's supporters.
