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President Donald Trump has called for Republican lawmakers in the Senate to officially nuke the filibuster in an effort to end the ongoing government shutdown.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: If you’re unaware, the Senate filibuster is a procedural rule that requires most legislation to secure 60 votes to advance, rather than a simple majority of 51, effectively allowing the minority party to block or delay bills. Introduced in its modern form in the early 20th century and solidified with the adoption of the cloture rule in 1917, the filibuster has long served as a tool to encourage bipartisan compromise and prevent drastic legislative swings with every change in party control. Both Democrats and Republicans have historically resisted calls to eliminate it, recognizing that while it can be frustrating when in the majority, it becomes a critical shield when in the minority.

What’s going on now: In a post on Truth Social, Trump urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster using what’sknown as the “nuclear option,” arguing that it’s the only way to bypass Democratic obstruction and end the shutdown. “It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘TRUMP CARD,’ and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!” he wrote. Trump said he gave the matter “a great deal” of thought during his flight home from Asia, expressing disbelief that “powerful Republicans allow” Democrats to shut down the government. He framed the filibuster as an outdated procedural barrier preventing real leadership, signaling that his patience with traditional Senate norms has run out.

Republican leaders responded quickly with resistance. Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office dismissed the idea, saying, “The leader’s position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged.” Senator Mike Curtis of Utah took to X to push back directly: “The filibuster forces us to find common ground in the Senate. Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t. I’m a firm no on eliminating it.”

Speaker Mike Johnson echoed similar concerns, stating that while the filibuster isn’t within his chamber’s control, “The filibuster has traditionally been viewed as a very important safeguard. If the shoe was on the other foot, I don’t think our team would like it.”

So far, no sitting Republican senators have publicly backed Trump’s demand, and there’s no indication he’s gaining traction among Senate leadership.

To actually remove the filibuster, Senate Republicans would need to trigger a procedural maneuver to set a new precedent (known informally as the nuclear option) allowing certain legislation, like government funding bills, to pass with a simple majority. With 53 seats, Republicans technically have the numbers to do it alone, but internal opposition makes that outcome highly unlikely.