President Donald Trump is actively pushing Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster, a procedural mechanism that has long been a key check on majority power in the U.S. Senate. The filibuster, which requires a 60-vote threshold to advance legislation, has been a point of contention during the government shutdown and broader political battles. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated that there is not enough Republican support to remove the filibuster, indicating a significant divide within the party.
Thune, during an interview on Fox News Radio, noted that while the Republicans hold the majority in the Senate, the procedural hurdle serves as a check on the majority’s power. He highlighted that the filibuster has been an essential tool for Republicans when they were in the minority, allowing them to block ‘a whole host of terrible Democrat policies’ last year. Thune emphasized that there are likely no more than 10 to 12 GOP senators willing to support eliminating the filibuster, underscoring the internal struggle over the issue within the party.
Despite Trump’s push, Thune warned that if Republicans ‘do their dirty work for them,’ they will ‘own all the crap’ Democrats would later do. The president has made the elimination of the filibuster a central demand, arguing that it is necessary to prevent Democrats from blocking ‘Common Sense Policies’ and to secure Republican victories in the upcoming elections. However, Thune’s stance suggests that the party is deeply divided on the issue, with many Republicans reluctant to remove the procedural hurdle despite the president’s insistence.
The ongoing government shutdown and political tensions further complicate the situation, with the Senate returning to work amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history over the Obamacare fight. These developments highlight the broader challenges facing the Republican Party as they navigate internal divisions and external pressures, including the need to pass critical legislation and avoid political backlash.