Trump urges GOP to ‘end the shutdown’ by going nuclear on Senate filibuster

President Donald Trump on Thursday urged Republicans to end the filibuster in order to end the monthlong government shutdown.

In a late-night Truth Social post, Trump noted that Democrats had tried to eliminate the Senate procedure when they had control of both chambers of Congress and the White House during the Biden administration, but then-Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema — both of whom have since left the Democratic Party to become independents — helped block the effort.

Trump revived talk of the “nuclear option,” after his returning from his Asia trip this week. 

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“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?” Trump wrote. “The fact is, in flying back, I thought a great deal about that question, WHY?” 

The president praised Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson for “doing a GREAT job,” but blasted Democrats as “crazed lunatics” suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” 

“They want 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,” Trump wrote. “This will hurt American citizens, and Republicans will not let it happen.”

Republicans and Democrats remain at an impasse over how to end the shutdown, now in its fourth week, with both sides trading blame for the stalemate. 

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Trump added that Republicans, who now hold control of Congress and the White House, should play their “Trump card” and go for the “nuclear option.”

“Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” he wrote.

Trump added that Democrats “fought so hard” to end the filibuster under Biden but failed. Now, he argued, Republicans should abolish the procedure to advance their own agenda and end the shutdown. 

“[I]f we did what we should be doing, it would immediately end this ridiculous, country-destroying shutdown,” Trump said. 

He added that Democrats would “do it on their first day” if they regained power. 

“In addition to all of the other things we would get, such as the best Judges, the best U.S. Attorneys, the best of everything, this was a concept from years ago of then President Barack Hussein Obama and former Majority Leader Harry Reid in order to take advantage of the Republicans. Now I want to do it in order to take advantage of the Democrats,” Trump added.

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The president was referring to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2013 decision to eliminate the 60-vote threshold for most executive branch and judicial nominees. The Senate, with a Democrat majority, voted 52–48 in 2013 to eliminate the 60-vote requirement.