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- Trump Tells Senate GOP to Crush the Filibuster or Lose in 2026
Trump Tells Senate GOP to Crush the Filibuster or Lose in 2026
Trump wants the Senate filibuster gone to break the shutdown and move the GOP agenda forward, even if it reshapes Congress itself.

What Happened
President Trump has called on Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster rule. This would allow them to end the ongoing government shutdown and pass legislation without Democratic support. The filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most bills. It has long been a barrier to swift action in a narrowly divided Senate. Trump argues that keeping it in place gives Democrats leverage they no longer deserve. It prevents the GOP from using its majority effectively.
In a post on Truth Social and in follow-up remarks, Trump warned that if Republicans fail to act, they risk losing the public’s trust and control of the Senate. He said the current rules reward obstruction, not leadership. He also said the only path forward is to go nuclear. This refers to the procedural vote that would allow the Senate to change its rules with a simple majority.
The shutdown is now in its fourth week. It has strained government services, stalled agency functions, and left thousands of federal employees working without pay. Trump views the filibuster as the last major obstacle to breaking the impasse. He also views it as an obstacle to advancing the remainder of his legislative agenda.
Why It Matters
Eliminating the filibuster would be a seismic change in how the Senate operates. It would strip the minority party of one of its most powerful tools. It would allow the majority to pass laws with a simple 51-vote threshold. That could speed up the legislative process. It would also remove the guardrails that have forced some level of bipartisan cooperation for decades.
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The call to end the filibuster reflects growing frustration among Republican lawmakers and conservative voters. They view the Senate as broken and inefficient. Trump is leaning into that frustration. He frames the issue not as procedural but as existential. In his view, failing to act decisively now only emboldens the opposition. It also weakens the majority's mandate.
This decision would affect how quickly spending bills pass. It would also reshape how future legislation on immigration, taxes, and federal oversight is debated and approved. If the GOP ends the filibuster now at Trump’s urging, they may pass more of their priorities in the short term. They would also hand that same power to Democrats if control flips later.
This is a risky gamble. It is also one that Trump appears ready to make.
How It Affects You
The effects of this standoff are already visible. Federal agencies are slowing down. Government contractors are seeing delays. Federal workers are missing paychecks. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more likely it is to create disruptions in air travel, tax processing, national parks, and basic services.
Although removing the filibuster would make it easier for the party in power to move quickly, it would also make future policy swings sharper. What gets passed under a Republican Senate today could be overturned easily by Democrats later. For Americans, this means less stability and more volatility in the laws that govern healthcare, immigration, taxes, and energy policy.
If the filibuster is killed, politics in Washington will move faster. That speed comes at the cost of balance. You may see quicker wins if your party is in power. You may also see quicker losses when it is not.