President Trump on Thursday said he was “in favor” of Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s proposal that would allow new parents in the House of Representatives to vote by proxy.
“I’m gonna let the speaker make the decision, but I like the idea of being able to — if you’re having a baby, I think you should be able to call in and vote,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“I’m in favor of that, but I understand some people aren’t,” he added.
Luna (R-Fla.) secured the required 218 signatures to force a vote on her bill last month, which seeks to allow new parents the ability to cast proxy votes, rather than having to come into the chamber in person, for three months after the birth of their child.
An effort by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who is staunchly opposed to proxy voting, to quash Luna’s bid to force a vote on the measure failed Tuesday, with nine Republicans joining all House Democrats to keep the bill alive.
Trump indicated that he is “not involved in the issue” but did speak to the Florida congresswoman about it on Wednesday.
“She and some people feel strongly about it, and I would agree with them,” the president said.
“I don’t know why it’s controversial.”
Luna, who gave birth to her first child in August 2023, thanked the president on X for his endorsement of proxy voting.
“Thank you @realDonaldTrump @POTUS for supporting a pro-family Congress,” the congresswoman wrote. “To be clear this is something ONLY to be used in an emergency to ensure that constituents are represented in Washington DC.”
Johnson reportedly spoke to Trump in the wake of his Air Force One comments to provide him with his opposing view on the issue, according to Punchbowl News.
Johnson canceled House votes for the remainder of the week following his failed effort to stop Luna from forcing a vote.
The Florida rep’s bill, which is co-sponsored by Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), will eventually have to come up for a vote.
“I’m confident that with President Trump’s support, my proxy voting resolution will pass and new moms and dads in Congress will be able to vote for the America First agenda we promised,” Luna wrote on X. “Thank you to the Members of Congress who stood with me when it wasn’t easy.”
The House speaker’s office did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
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