With the government shutdown dragging on, President Donald Trump has urged Senate Republicans to utilize the “nuclear option” to eliminate the filibuster.
The president made his request known on Thursday evening via his Truth Social account.
“One question kept resurfacing: how did the Democrats develop their policies? They’re essentially shutting down the United States. And why is the Republican Party allowing this?” Trump reflected as he returned to the plane. He noted, “I kept thinking, why?”
“Majority Leader John Thune and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson are doing an excellent job, but the Democrats are, well, unhinged, having lost their grip on reality,” he stated. “This is a classic case of what’s being called Trump Derangement Syndrome. It’s what happens when we lose too much. They aim to drain trillions from our healthcare and give it to those who don’t deserve it, including many who came to our country illegally, sometimes straight from prisons or mental health facilities. This could seriously hurt the American people, and we can’t let that happen.”
He concluded with a call to action, saying, “It’s time for Republicans to play their trump card and go ahead with the nuclear option. We need to abolish the filibuster, and do it now!”
According to Knox News, the ongoing shutdown marks “the second longest in U.S. history,” approaching a new record. The previous shutdown from 2018 to 2019 remains the longest at 35 days.
As the impasse continues, many federal employees are either furloughed or working without pay. There are delays at airports due to staffing shortages with TSA and air traffic control. Research grants have been halted, and some national parks, like the Great Smoky Mountains, are relying on funds from state and local sources, while others remain closed until at least November 2.
