President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to exterminate the filibuster rule to clear a path for the end of the government shutdown.
Why It Matters
The filibuster—a procedural move allowing senators to extend debates on bills indefinitely without a 60-vote majority—has long been viewed as a move to encourage bipartisanship in Congress and as a bulwark against political dominance by slim majorities in the upper chamber.
Banishing the rule would further empower the already dominant Republicans in Congress.
What To Know
Trump, in a post on his Truth Social page, said he had been repeatedly asked on his tour of Asia this week about the government shutdown.
“The one question that kept coming up, however, was how did the Democrats SHUT DOWN the United States of America, and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it?” he said.
Trump added that Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson “are doing a GREAT job but the Democrats are Crazed Lunatics that have lost all sense of WISDOM and REALITY.”
The president said the demands Democrats were making to end the shutdown “will hurt American citizens, and Republicans will not let it happen.”
“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 said.
During former President Joe Biden’s term in office, many Democrats called for an end to the Senate’s filibuster rule but Biden opposed scrapping it, saying that he wants to govern in a bipartisan manner and garner the support of Republicans for his legislative priorities.
What People Are Saying
Trump, also in his post: “Just a short while ago, the Democrats, while in power, fought for three years to do this, but were unable to pull it off because of Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. Never have the Democrats fought so hard to do something because they knew the tremendous strength that terminating the Filibuster would give them..Now I want to do it in order to take advantage of the Democrats.”
What Happens Next
Senate Republicans have ruled out changing the rules to abolish the filibuster, arguing that it would ultimately benefit Democrats the next time they retake power, but Trump said Republicans should act now to immediately end the shutdown.
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