Politics Commentary
President Donald Trump has called on Senate Republicans to take an aggressive step to end the month-long government shutdown — urging them to abolish the filibuster rule and pass a funding bill with a simple majority vote.
In a fiery post shared Thursday morning on Truth Social, Trump said it was time for the GOP to “play their Trump Card” and move decisively to reopen the federal government without waiting for Democratic cooperation.
“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 wrote.
The former president’s demand comes as the shutdown, now entering its 30th day, continues to disrupt federal services, furlough thousands of workers, and intensify partisan tensions on Capitol Hill.
Trump’s Message: Stop Letting Democrats ‘Hold the Country Hostage’
Trump’s post was part frustration and part rallying cry. He blamed Democrats for causing the shutdown and accused Senate Republicans of allowing the opposition to “cripple” the government by refusing to change outdated Senate rules.
According to Trump, Democrats have repeatedly used the 60-vote threshold to block efforts by the GOP to pass a short-term spending bill — a move he described as “sabotage.”
“During my trip across Asia this week,” Trump wrote, “the one question that kept coming up was, how did the Democrats SHUT DOWN the United States of America — and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it?”
Trump claimed that foreign leaders were shocked to see the U.S. government paralyzed for political gain, describing the shutdown as “a humiliation on the world stage.”
The Call for the ‘Nuclear Option’
The “nuclear option” is a controversial procedural move that would change Senate rules to allow most legislation to pass with a simple majority — 51 votes — rather than the current 60-vote requirement.
Historically, both parties have resisted abolishing the filibuster for general legislation, fearing it would erode minority party influence. However, it has been used for specific issues: Democrats invoked it in 2013 to approve most presidential appointments with a simple majority, and Republicans extended it in 2017 for Supreme Court nominees.
Now, Trump is urging the GOP to apply the same rule change to budget and spending bills.
“Republicans have the majority. Use it,” Trump said. “The Democrats are lunatics who’ve lost all sense of WISDOM and REALITY — suffering from a sick form of Trump Derangement Syndrome that only comes from losing too much.”
Trump argued that Democrats’ refusal to fund the government without a massive $1.5 trillion spending increase was “not about helping Americans — it’s about power and control.”
What’s at Stake
The Senate remains gridlocked as the Schumer Shutdown stretches into its fifth week. Republicans have introduced multiple short-term funding measures, known as continuing resolutions (CRs), to keep the government operating at pre-shutdown spending levels.
Each proposal has been blocked by Senate Democrats, who insist that any funding agreement must include new provisions for Affordable Care Act subsidies, Medicare and Medicaid adjustments, and expanded healthcare access for migrants.
Trump blasted those demands, calling them “an insult to hardworking American taxpayers.”
“They want $1.5 trillion in new spending — including healthcare money for illegal aliens,” Trump said. “That’s not going to happen. Not while Republicans are standing up for American citizens first.”
Senate GOP Frustration Builds
Inside the Senate, frustration is boiling over. Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has attempted to rally bipartisan support for a short-term bill to restore government operations, but his efforts have repeatedly been blocked.
The final vote count on the most recent proposal was 55–45, leaving Republicans five votes short of the 60 needed to overcome the filibuster.
GOP lawmakers are now debating whether Trump’s suggestion — eliminating the filibuster for spending measures — could be a realistic way forward.
“It’s not something we take lightly,” said Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). “But at some point, Democrats can’t keep shutting down the government every time they want more money.”
Others remain cautious. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) warned that removing the filibuster could “set a dangerous precedent” that would backfire if Democrats regain control of the Senate.
Still, Trump’s allies in Congress argue that drastic action may be the only way to break the stalemate.
“President Trump is right,” said Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO). “The filibuster has turned into a weapon for gridlock. If Democrats want to block every effort to pay federal workers and reopen parks, then they don’t deserve to hide behind Senate rules.”
A Familiar Battle Over Senate Rules
The filibuster debate isn’t new. Democrats themselves tried to eliminate it during Biden’s presidency to pass voting rights legislation and other progressive priorities.
At that time, their push failed due to opposition from Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who argued that protecting minority rights in the Senate was essential to preventing tyranny by the majority.
Trump pointed to that failed Democratic effort as evidence of hypocrisy.
“Just a short while ago, the Democrats fought for three years to do this — and now they act like it’s some sacred rule,” he wrote. “They only care about the filibuster when it protects them.”
The Shutdown’s Growing Impact
The political standoff is starting to have tangible effects across the country. National parks remain closed, several federal agencies are operating on skeleton staff, and millions of Americans who depend on programs like SNAP and WIC are bracing for funding interruptions.
At the same time, roughly 800,000 federal employees remain furloughed or are working without pay.
Despite the growing strain, Trump insists that Republicans must not surrender, arguing that giving in to Democratic demands would only encourage more shutdowns in the future.
“The Democrats are using federal workers and families as leverage,” Trump said. “They’re trying to hold the entire country hostage until they get what they want — endless spending and open borders.”
Democrats Push Back
Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer (D-NY), have dismissed Trump’s proposal as reckless.
“Ending the filibuster would destroy the Senate’s integrity,” Schumer said in a press conference. “It’s a power grab, plain and simple. The shutdown ends when Republicans agree to fund healthcare, childcare, and family support programs — not when they threaten democracy.”
However, internal reports from Capitol Hill suggest growing unease within the Democratic caucus. Several moderate senators are reportedly exploring ways to end the shutdown before public backlash deepens.
Polls released this week indicate that voter frustration is rising — and for the first time in weeks, a slim majority now blames Democrats for the stalemate.
Trump’s Strategy: Pressure and Persistence
Trump’s message to Senate Republicans was clear: stop waiting for cooperation that will never come.
“The American people are tired of watching Washington fail,” he wrote. “They want action, they want leadership, and they want results.”
If Republicans do take Trump’s advice and move to eliminate the filibuster for spending bills, it would mark a seismic shift in congressional procedure — one that could permanently reshape how future governments operate.
But as the shutdown nears the one-month mark, both sides appear dug in, unwilling to concede ground.
For now, Trump’s latest demand adds a new level of pressure to Senate Republicans — forcing them to decide whether protecting a procedural rule is worth continuing a shutdown that has already stretched far longer than anyone expected.