Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) posted a video on social media platform X where he seemingly confirmed rumors that have been swirling around political circles that Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) chief of staff, Terry Carmack, is the one responsible for stalling the SAVE America Act. Burchett and many other conservatives believe Carmack is trying to keep this bill, which focuses on preserving the integrity of American elections, out of committee to protect Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) from debate pressure.
During the video, Burchett mentions that much of the work coming out of McConnell’s office is likely being handled by his staffers. He then compared McConnell to former President Joe Biden and the significant cognitive decline he experienced in his final years in office. Much of the former president’s workload was handled by staffers as his condition worsened. Burchett believes the same thing is happening to the Kentucky senator, who is not seeking re-election, and that Carmack is the one stalling efforts to pass the SAVE Act.
For those who are unfamiliar with the basics of the legislation, it mandates that those who are seeking voter registration must provide documentary proof of their U.S. citizenship, including a photo ID and birth certificate. The idea is that by requiring this proof, non-citizens can be prevented from participating in important elections, something many conservatives feel Democrats have taken advantage of for years.
The bill passed the House of Representatives on February 11, 2026, however, it has been stalled in the Senate. Democrats claim that if the bill is passed, it could result in disenfranchising up to 21 million eligible voters who they say do not have easy access to the required documents to confirm their eligibility to vote. Carmack has an established reputation in Kentucky Republican politics and previously served as McConnell’s State Director in June 2010.
Part of Carmack’s current responsibilities as McConnell’s chief of staff includes scheduling, advising on policy/legislation, and coordinates with other members of McConnell’s leadership team. With McConnell’s noticeable decline, many individuals online believe he has taken over day-to-day operations for the senator. McConnell, who is the chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, continues to prevent the bill from moving forward, but much speculation points toward Carmack being the one who is utilizing McConnell and his position as chair to keep it stalled and avoid Thune and Cornyn getting into debates over the legislation.
Burchett and others have expressed concern about Carmack calling the shots because he is not an elected official. This has led to a push for Americans to contact McConnell’s office and express their discontent. Folks on social media were livid about the confirmation Burchett provided. “So…someone named Terry Carmack is now the leader of the United States Senate. That’s impressive! I must update my org chart,” a commenter sarcastically replied.
Another user theorized that Thune has the power to dislodge McConnell, but refuses to exercise it due to favors he owes to McConnell’s staff. “He has the power to dislodge McConnell, but he owes favors to McConnell’s staff for making him heir to the Leader role. Lots of us predicted he would behave like he has – Uniparty, weak, and sitting in his hand awaiting Trump’s exit. He’s going to cause @SpeakerJohnson
to get fired too. He’s as disappointing as we thought he’d be. Our system is broken,” the user wrote.
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Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video