On Thursday, President Donald Trump made a bold request to congressional Republicans: he urged them to end the ongoing government shutdown by removing the Senate filibuster. This marks a significant step that GOP leaders have staunchly opposed up to this point.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump called for the Republicans to reach for their ‘TRUMP CARD’ and implement what he refers to as the Nuclear Option. He stated, “Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!”
This directive, coming right after Trump’s international trip, threw a wrench into the ongoing discussions in Congress aimed at resolving the prolonged funding crisis. It also ramped up pressure on Republican leaders who have continuously defended the 60-vote requirement for passing bills as a safeguard against potential Democratic overreach.
GOP leaders have long maintained that the filibuster is beneficial for Republicans and essential in preventing transformative legislation during Democratic administrations.
The filibuster is unique to the Senate, granting power to the minority party to obstruct a vote on a bill, provided that at least 41 senators disapprove. Its defenders argue that this rule promotes bipartisan compromise and complicates efforts to push through sweeping partisan reforms.
Recently, Senate Majority Leader John Thune dismissed any thoughts of altering Senate rules to collect votes and insist on keeping the filibuster intact, labeling it a protection against detrimental policies.
Yet, Trump has now pivoted, asserting that Republicans should leverage their current majority in the Senate to eliminate the filibuster and promptly reopen the government.
Writing on Truth Social, Trump emphasized, “Now WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, country-destroying ‘SHUT DOWN.’” He warned that if Republicans didn’t utilize their strengths to terminate the filibuster, the Democrats would do so at the onset of their administration, allowing them to regain control immediately.
This new call from Trump comes amid indications from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle suggesting that they might be edging closer to a resolution, although they acknowledge that significant hurdles remain despite escalating consequences across the nation.
With the Senate not scheduled to reconvene until Monday evening, the deadline looms large as the country nears a potential record of 35 days with no federal funding.
The looming shutdown threatens crucial food assistance for millions of Americans, and the White House on Thursday emphasized the toll that the shutdown is exacting on air traffic control, organizing a roundtable with airline industry leaders and union representatives.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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