The room was "eerily silent" and "uncomfortable" Wednesday morning as President Trump cajoled Republican senators to end the filibuster, multiple attendees told Axios.
Why it matters: Trump warned the party would "get killed" and be viewed as "do-nothing Republicans" if they don't change Senate rules requiring 60 votes for most legislation.
- "If you don't terminate the filibuster, you'll be in bad shape," the president told GOP senators during the televised portion of the breakfast remarks.
- He went even further after the press was instructed to leave.
Zoom in: Trump dismissed Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) suggestion that they again use the reconciliation process like they did with the "big, beautiful bill," according to a source in the room.
- Trump blamed Tuesday night's sweeping Republican losses on the now-record shutdown, insisting behind closed doors that it has hurt their party far more than it has hurt Democrats.
- GOP leaders have been arguing the opposite point for weeks.
- Trump made clear that the shutdown needs to end as soon as possible, and ending the filibuster "this afternoon" would be the quickest way to accomplish that.
The bottom line: "I know where math is on this issue in the Senate. It's just not happening," Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Wednesday morning.
