President Donald Trump late Thursday called for Senate Republicans to end the partial government shutdown by using the “nuclear option” to eliminate the legislative filibuster.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Democrats “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. This 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 argued that a future Senate Democratic majority would take the step anyway by changing the threshold to limit debate on legislation from 60 votes to a simple majority, and Republicans should thus take advantage of their current position to act and pass a government funding bill. Trump mentioned the opposition from then-Sens. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to the rules changes during the last Democratic majority. Both have since left Congress.
