Trump Urges Senate to Nuke Filibuster During Record Shutdown

The United States federal government shutdown entered its 39th day by November 8, 2025, becoming the longest in U.S. history. The stalemate began on October 1, driven by a deadlock over funding for the Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Democrats demand as a condition for reopening the government. The shutdown has caused severe disruptions, including a 10 percent reduction in air traffic at 40 major airports due to staffing shortages and the lapse of SNAP benefits for millions of Americans.

Donald Trump has repeatedly urged Senate Republicans to adopt the "nuclear option" by eliminating the 60-vote filibuster threshold. He argues that removing this rule would allow the GOP to pass policies on voter ID, border security, and tax cuts via a simple majority, claiming such victories would make it "impossible to lose" future elections. Trump warned that failure to act would lead to "brutal" losses in the 2026 midterms, a sentiment reinforced by Democratic victories in off-year elections in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City on November 4.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has consistently rebuffed the president, stating there are insufficient votes within the Republican caucus to abolish the rule. While some senators, including Ron Johnson and Josh Hawley, expressed support for the move, others like James Lankford and Lindsey Graham warned that eliminating the filibuster could allow future Democratic majorities to pack the Supreme Court. Negotiations remain stalled as Thune continues to reject Democratic proposals to extend healthcare credits as a "non-starter," while Trump maintains pressure on the Senate from his Mar-a-Lago resort.