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President Donald Trump is urging Senate Republicans to abolish the chamber’s 60-vote filibuster rule, calling it the only way to end the ongoing government shutdown without Democratic support. But his demand is being flatly rejected — not by Democrats, but by members of his own party.
“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 late Thursday on social media. “If we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying ‘SHUT DOWN.’”
The shutdown, now in its 30th day, began Oct. 1 after Congress failed to agree on a funding bill. Trump’s latest intervention reflects growing frustration inside the White House over the stalemate — and his willingness to push his party toward a long-standing taboo in the Senate.
GOP leaders resist Trump’s call
Senate Republicans, including leadership, swiftly rebuffed Trump’s call to scrap the filibuster.
“Leader Thune’s position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged,” said Ryan Wrasse, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.
A spokesperson for Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., echoed that sentiment: “Senator Barrasso’s support of the filibuster is unchanged.”
Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, posted that he was a “firm no” on eliminating the rule. “The filibuster forces us to find common ground in the Senate. Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t,” Curtis wrote.
Other Republicans including Sens. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma all said they oppose weakening or abolishing the 60-vote threshold.
“That’s a nonstarter,” Marshall said. Mullin added he would “absolutely not” support going nuclear.
Tillis warned that ending the filibuster would trigger long-term political fallout: “We stood firm [when Trump called for this before]. I can’t imagine anybody changing now.”
Historical and political context
The legislative filibuster, which requires 60 votes to invoke “cloture” and end debate, has been part of Senate procedure since 1975. Both parties have previously carved out exceptions — notably for executive branch nominees and judicial confirmations — but have largely resisted removing it for legislation.
Republicans fear that abolishing the rule could empower future Democratic majorities to pass sweeping reforms on voting rights, abortion, and court expansion without GOP input.
“The 60-vote threshold has protected this country,” Thune told reporters earlier this month. “It’s been a bulwark against a lot of really bad things happening to the country.”
Filibuster fight extends across chambers
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., backed the Senate’s resistance. “The filibuster has traditionally been viewed as a very important safeguard,” Johnson said. “If the shoe was on the other foot, I don’t think our team would like it.”
But not all Republicans agree. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, recently called on his party to eliminate the filibuster to end the shutdown — though he conceded two weeks later that he had made “no progress” in convincing colleagues.
Democrats, meanwhile, have largely mocked the GOP divide. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., said Republicans “should go ahead and carve it out” for funding bills, while Rep. Chris DeLuzio, D-Pa., quipped that if Republicans “didn’t want to deal with Democrats, they should have nuked the filibuster.”
Trump’s broader argument
Trump noted that Democrats had previously sought to eliminate the 60-vote threshold in 2022 to pass a voting rights bill. “If the Democrats ever came back into power… they will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office,” Trump wrote.
Despite his push, the prospect of changing Senate rules remains highly unlikely. Republicans appear unified in their refusal to scrap the filibuster — even as the shutdown’s economic toll mounts.
