The US government teeters on the brink of a record-breaking shutdown as President Trump continues to pressure Senate Republicans to abandon the filibuster, the 60-vote threshold that has long thwarted his legislative ambitions.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump urged Republicans to "terminate the filibuster, not just for the shutdown, but for everything else," echoing sentiments from some of the party's hardliners. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune remains resolute in his opposition, with his spokesperson reaffirming that he has no intention of changing the chamber's rules.
In an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, Trump expressed disagreement with Thune and even praised him as "terrific," suggesting that his stance is at odds with his own position. When pressed on why he disagrees, Trump insisted that ending the filibuster would give Republicans the leverage to pass their preferred policies, including voter ID laws.
The President's comments were laced with a sense of urgency, warning that Democrats would seize the initiative if they did. "REMEMBER, THE DEMOCRATS WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS THEY GET THE CHANCE," Trump tweeted. The threat has set up a high-stakes showdown between Trump and Thune, with the fate of the government hanging precariously in the balance.
The push to dismantle the filibuster is a stark reminder of the deepening divisions within the Republican Party and the ongoing struggle for control over Congress. As negotiations continue, one thing is clear: the consequences of failure would be far-reaching and potentially devastating for millions of Americans.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump urged Republicans to "terminate the filibuster, not just for the shutdown, but for everything else," echoing sentiments from some of the party's hardliners. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune remains resolute in his opposition, with his spokesperson reaffirming that he has no intention of changing the chamber's rules.
In an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes that aired Sunday, Trump expressed disagreement with Thune and even praised him as "terrific," suggesting that his stance is at odds with his own position. When pressed on why he disagrees, Trump insisted that ending the filibuster would give Republicans the leverage to pass their preferred policies, including voter ID laws.
The President's comments were laced with a sense of urgency, warning that Democrats would seize the initiative if they did. "REMEMBER, THE DEMOCRATS WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS THEY GET THE CHANCE," Trump tweeted. The threat has set up a high-stakes showdown between Trump and Thune, with the fate of the government hanging precariously in the balance.
The push to dismantle the filibuster is a stark reminder of the deepening divisions within the Republican Party and the ongoing struggle for control over Congress. As negotiations continue, one thing is clear: the consequences of failure would be far-reaching and potentially devastating for millions of Americans.
this is sooo dramatic im a little worried about whats gonna happen if they dont get that filibuster thingy sorted out like what if democrats take over? 
trump is being super weird btw he says his own party members are against him which is kinda true lol meanwhile senate rep john thune is all "nope cant change the rules" and i get it but at the same time... its a bit of a mess 
anyone think they should just take a deep breath and try to find common ground or whats gonna happen next? 
and it's setting up a huge showdown between them. I get why they're both passionate, but can't we find a way to work together on this? The whole country's gonna suffer if they don't figure it out 
. And what's really crazy is Trump's already implying that Democrats will take advantage of the situation... like, isn't that just what he's trying to avoid by pressing Republicans for change? 
i mean, wouldn't that just give dems more power? 
. It's not just about politics or policy - it's about how this affects our daily lives, you know? People are going to lose their jobs, services are gonna be disrupted... what about mental health? 
I'm all for getting stuff done, but can't we find a way to work together? 
We're already so divided as it is. Let's take a deep breath and try to stay calm 
why can't he just compromise like everyone else? and what's with this voter id law thing, sounds super suspicious to me 
also doesn't he know that the filibuster has been in place for centuries? seems like a pretty solid system to me 
anyway, i'm low-key worried about the shutdown but i'm not sure if trump is bluffing or what his real game plan is 
gotta keep an eye on this one 
... and now it seems like they're in some kind of standoff 
... I mean, millions of Americans are affected by the government shutdown 
... it's not just about politics, it's about people's lives 
. And what's really scary is that this whole thing could bring down the government, and I'm not just talkin' 'bout the shutdown 
he's just trying to get his way and make a scene. if he wants to pass those voter ID laws, why not just work with the democrats or compromise on some stuff?