President Donald Trump on Wednesday invited the entire Senate Republican conference to the White House, pressing them to eliminate the Senate filibuster as the government shutdown reached its 36th day, the longest in U.S. history. The filibuster currently requires most legislation to meet a 60-vote threshold, effectively giving the minority party leverage over whether bills advance.
Speaking in the State Dining Room, Trump argued that Republicans should act alone to reopen the government, contending that Democrats have refused to compromise on legislation unless it includes an extension of healthcare subsidies.
“I think it’s very important. We have to get the country open. And the way we’re going to do it this afternoon is to terminate the filibuster,” Trump said. He acknowledged some Republican senators might resist the move. “And it’s possible you’re not going to do that. And I’m going to go by your wishes. You’re very smart people. We’re good friends. But I think it’s a tremendous mistake. It would be a tragic mistake, actually. It’s time.”
His remarks followed a series of Democratic election victories the previous night in states including New Jersey and Virginia, outcomes that added political pressure on Republicans as the shutdown continued. Trump suggested Democrats had little incentive to negotiate.
“The Democrat radicals in the Senate have shown zero interest in reopening the government, and I don’t think they’ll act so soon. A lot of people disagree,” he said. “It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that’s terminate the filibuster. And if you don’t terminate the filibuster you’ll be in bad shape.”
Trump also took aim at the Senate’s long-standing “blue slip” policy, which allows home-state senators to block presidential nominations for district court judges and U.S. attorneys. The policy has historically been defended as a means of ensuring consultation between the White House and the Senate, but has often become a point of contention under presidents of both parties.
Despite Trump’s push, several Senate Republicans have indicated they are unlikely to support changing the rules. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), along with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah), and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), are among those who have said that eliminating the filibuster would weaken Senate norms and remove protections for minority-party lawmakers.
Trump has repeatedly called for ending the filibuster, including during his first term, but GOP senators have so far refused to do so, citing concerns that such a move could backfire if control of the Senate changes hands in the future.
