Explainer: a bill becomes law after 10 days without the president's signature
The bipartisan housing bill that recently cleared the House and Senate will become law without President Trump’s signature if he neither signs nor vetoes it within ten days, excluding Sundays, while Congress remains in session. The Constitution’s presentment clause requires the president to sign or return a bill within that period; failure to act while Congress sits means automatic enactment. If Congress adjourns during those ten days so the president cannot return the bill, he can pocket veto it; otherwise his only formal option is a veto that Congress can overturn with two-thirds majorities in both chambers. Because the measure passed by large bipartisan margins, the president’s refusal to sign is unlikely to stop the law, so the dispute matters more for political messaging than for the bill’s ultimate effect.
He thinks this is a good way to put pressure on Congress and shows his base he is “fighting”. But it will become law regardless, whether through a veto override or without a signature, so all it will do is piss off Congress and swing voters (to the extent any of the latter pay attention to it).
Special K3As always, there is no plan or strategy to it, he’s just having a temper tantrum and lashing out because he can’t keep his childish emotions in check. That’s all this stuff ever is.
Brett53552Thank you for being one of the few to include that it will become law w/o his signature. Most people posting about this are treating it like some kind of meaningful thing he is doing. I wonder if he even knows that or if they are all afraid to tell him? The Save...Act is dead and he knows it.
If he doesn't veto it within 10 days it becomes law anyway.
G27This is what I came here to say.
Caribou4Not in this case, because Congress will not be in session before the 10 days is up. This is known as a "pocket veto" and the bill would have to be reintroduced and revoted on when they are back in session. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_...
bookgrump.bsky.social2And then watch him claim it s everything he has done to help Americans.
krbit.bsky.social2I just read an article that said it was "Veto Proof"
So, does Trump (a) reverse course and sign the housing bill in the next few days with some absurd pretext about how he actually got what he wanted, or (b) allow the bill to become law without his signature, thereby doing nothing but denying GOP members the opportunity for some good press?
Cindy Rugeley3Do you think he knows he does not have to sign the bill for it to become law?
Rob Shearer2This is Trump. An outright veto is unlikely, but would it be one of the ten dumbest political moves he’s made this term? The question is whether any staffer is crazy enough to pitch him on “Force Republicans to vote to embarrass you or bend the knee, and you’ll prove TACO is bullshit…”
Kevin Collins2If Speaker recessed the house, would that make it possible for Trump to pocket veto?
