Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) made an appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” program, during which he, shockingly, got called out by anchor Jon Karl for not having his facts straight. The moment, which has been clipped and is going viral on social media, serves as a rare win for journalistic integrity coming from a mainstream media outlet.
The topic of conversation during the interview was on Democrats opposing the SAVE America Act, a piece of legislation that endeavors to preserve election integrity by requiring those who register to vote to provide documented proof they have a valid U.S. citizenship, along with making it mandatory nationwide for voters to present a photo ID at the polls before casting a ballot.
“Now I understand that you and I think every other Democrat oppose the so-called Save America Act, and there’s a lot of reasons that you’ve put forward. But let me ask you very narrowly on the issue of photo ID, requiring photo ID to register to vote. Is this something that Democrats should get behind?” Karl asked Warner.
“In Virginia, we have voter ID and photo ID!” Mark Warner responded. However, this is not accurate. The state of Virginia, according to a report from The Gateway Pundit, allows voters to present non-photo identification in order to cast their ballots, such as copies of utility bills and bank statements. Voters can also sign an ID statement affirming their identity.
Surprisingly, Karl fact-checked the senator on the spot. “That’s actually not the case. I’m a Virginia voter. You don’t need to show a photo ID in Virginia. There are a wide range of things you can show for ID,” he told Warner. “And if you don’t show one of those you can sign an affidavit.” Warner then responded by saying “those become ballots that, if you want to contest later, can be contested.”
Users on social media platform X weighed in on the fact-check clip with one individual writing, “The question is why object to the law then? If he is going to lie and say they require photo ID, what’s his BS rationale for objecting to a photo ID law? He’s full so full of crap he doesn’t even lie in a sensical manner.” Another person explained why Democrats loathe the SAVE America Act.
“The Democrats HATE the SAVE AMERICA legislation because it interrupts their ability to cheat in elections by having ‘non-citizens’ given the chance to vote using a state issued driver’s license,” the user said. Someone else recounted that a person in an assisted living facility with a mental age of 10 received a ballot. “I remember a mail in ballot for an adult with a 10 year mental age in assisted living. Her sister said she never received one before and didn’t know where it came from,” the user wrote.
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“I had no idea that was the law because they always ask me for my ID and I always use my license. All these years I’ve lived here, I thought we had photo ID requirements,” a user commented on the clip. “So if you sign the affidavit, your vote can be contested. Ooooh, that makes it okay because I am sure that vote will be contested. I am sure you are going to do that. Oh by the way, I am also a complete retard,” another stated.
ABC: "You and every other Democrat oppose the SAVE America Act… requiring photo ID to register to vote, is this Democrats should get behind?"
WARNER: “In Virginia, we have voter ID and photo ID!”
ABC: “That’s actually not the case. I’m a Virginia voter…” pic.twitter.com/jRuFt8veKw
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) July 19, 2026
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video