Table of Contents
- Trump Urges ‘Nuclear Option’
- Thune’s Stance Holds Firm
- Why the Filibuster Matters
- Republican Divisions Deepen
- Historical Context
- What Happens Next?
- Sources
Trump Urges ‘Nuclear Option’
Former President Donald Trump is once again pushing Senate Republicans to scrap the filibuster, calling on them to deploy the so-called “nuclear option” to end the ongoing government shutdown. In a fiery post on Truth Social after returning from Asia, Trump demanded that Senate Majority Leader John Thune “get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!”
Trump’s plea centers on using a simple majority vote—rather than the current 60-vote threshold—to pass a stopgap spending bill that would reopen shuttered federal agencies. With Republicans holding only 53 Senate seats and lacking consistent support from all their members, the path to 60 votes remains blocked.
Thune’s Stance Holds Firm
Despite mounting pressure from Trump and hardline conservatives like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thune has made clear he will not budge. A spokesperson for the South Dakota senator confirmed Friday: “Leader Thune’s position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged.”
Thune, who became Senate Majority Leader in 2025, has long positioned himself as a guardian of Senate norms—even as he’s quietly chipped away at them in other areas, such as speeding up judicial confirmations and expanding the use of budget reconciliation.
Why the Filibuster Matters
The legislative filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most major bills in the Senate. It’s a procedural tool that has historically forced bipartisan compromise. Many senior Republicans fear that eliminating it—even temporarily—would set a dangerous precedent.
If Democrats regain control of the Senate in the future, they could pass sweeping progressive legislation—like D.C. statehood or voting rights reforms—without Republican input. That long-term risk outweighs the short-term gain of ending a shutdown, Thune and his allies argue.
Republican Divisions Deepen
While Trump rallies his base to pressure Thune, internal GOP fractures are widening. Not all Senate Republicans support nuking the filibuster. In fact, several have privately expressed strong opposition, echoing the stance once held by former Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
McConnell famously resisted Trump’s similar demands during his tenure, warning that “what goes around comes around” in the Senate. That caution still resonates among institutionalists in the GOP conference.
Historical Context
The filibuster debate isn’t new. In 2022, Senate Democrats attempted to eliminate the 60-vote rule for election-related bills but failed when moderates Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) sided with Republicans.
Ironically, both parties have flip-flopped on the issue depending on which side holds power. But Thune’s current resistance suggests a rare moment of procedural consistency in an era of escalating political brinkmanship.
What Happens Next?
With the shutdown dragging on and public frustration mounting, pressure will only intensify. Yet without a shift in Thune’s position—or a wave of Republican defections—the filibuster remains intact, and the government stays closed.
For now, the Senate remains deadlocked, caught between Trump’s demands for decisive action and Thune’s defense of institutional guardrails.
Sources
The New York Times: “Despite Trump’s Call, Thune Remains Opposed to Changing the Filibuster”
