WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) President Donald Trump said Wednesday he will refuse to sign a landmark housing bill, passed by Congress with broad bipartisan support, until lawmakers approve legislation that would overhaul American elections and restrict voter registration.

Trump, for months, has been calling for members of his Republican Party to ram through the SAVE America Act, a package that would impose strict new limits, including requiring all voters to show proof of citizenship, like a passport, when registering to vote, and photo identification to cast a ballot.

“Today’s Housing News Conference and Signing is hereby cancelled until such time as we pass the desperately needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider to be a National Emergency,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, just two hours before a ceremony scheduled to take place at the US Capitol.

The election reform measure has already failed in the Senate, and critics say it is a blatant effort to suppress voting in Democratic-leaning communities.

But Trump, who still regularly airs his false claims that he won the 2020 election, has repeatedly demanded passage of the bill, even as Republican leaders explain there is little chance of it passing in the chamber due to Senate rules and a lack of support among some Republican senators.

Trump’s refusal to sign the bill may be mere political signalling. Under the US Constitution, if the president does not sign a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, and he does not veto the measure, it automatically becomes law.

The new housing bill passed on Tuesday with broad bipartisan support in Congress, including strong backing from Republicans who have touted it as a key accomplishment on affordability heading into November’s midterm elections.

It is aimed at boosting housing supply, easing construction rules and expanding access to home ownership as high rents, elevated mortgage costs and a shortage of homes have become major political concerns.

Trump had been supportive of the package, given that it was meant to showcase his fight to lower the cost of living against a backdrop of persistent inflation driven in part by his war against Iran.

But on Wednesday he grumbled that it is of “minor importance” and “pales in comparison” to passing the SAVE America Act.

Last week the president cancelled the Senate confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, whom he had nominated as director of national intelligence, arguing that the election bill took priority.

Supporters of the measure believe it would strengthen US election security. Even with 14 states not requiring any form of identification to cast a ballot, including California and New York, voter fraud is exceedingly rare.

Critics of the bill point out that it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in US elections, and express alarm over the barriers being erected that infringe on the voting rights of millions of Americans.

Many organizations warn that people from minority groups are the most affected by such restrictions.