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President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, calling for the so-called “Nuclear Option” to overcome a Democratic blockade and end a partial government shutdown that stretched into its 30th day.
The filibuster is a Senate practice that generally requires 60 votes to pass most legislation in the 100-member chamber. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority and a 219-213 House majority.
“It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The shutdown, which began Oct. 1 after Congress failed to pass full appropriations, could shave as much as 2 percent from fourth-quarter gross domestic product and cost the U.S. economy between $7 billion and $14 billion, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday.
Trump posted a longer two-part message late Thursday night recounting his recent Asia trip and criticizing Democrats for the shutdown. He accused Democrats of wanting “Trillions of Dollars to be taken from our Healthcare System and given to others, who are not deserving — People who have come into our Country illegally, many from prisons and mental institutions.” He added, “It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!”
Trump argued the move would allow Republicans to pass measures immediately and warned that Democrats previously sought to end the filibuster to “substantially expand (PACK!) the United States Supreme Court, make Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico States … and many other highly destructive things.”
He concluded his lengthy message with the all-caps message, “BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GONE STONE COLD “CRAZY,” THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE “NUCLEAR OPTION,” GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Senate Republican leaders have been cautious about eliminating the filibuster, a procedure that would fundamentally alter how the chamber functions and risks unleashing a reciprocal change if the opposing party regains control. Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, both cited by Trump in his post for doing a “GREAT job,” have so far stopped short of endorsing the filibuster’s removal.