Former President Donald Trump is preparing to escalate his rhetoric against Senate Republicans who oppose his call to eliminate the filibuster. Advisers have indicated that if Senate Republicans continue to resist, Trump is poised to unleash significant pressure on them, which he described as making their lives a “living hell.” This announcement comes as the government shutdown, which started on March 1, 2024, enters its record-setting duration.
Most Senate Republicans have expressed reluctance to abolish the filibuster, a legislative procedure that requires 60 votes for most bills to advance. Trump’s frustration marks a notable shift in his attention towards the ongoing budget impasse, which he previously believed would resolve itself as Democrats might concede.
One Trump adviser stated, “He will call them at three o’clock in the morning. He will blow them up in their districts. He will call them un-American.” Another source added, “He’s really mad about this.” Trump’s growing irritation highlights his view that the filibuster gives Democrats undue leverage during the shutdown.
As Trump’s dissatisfaction mounted, he criticized the Senate’s traditional “blue slip” process, which allows Democratic senators to block certain judicial nominees. His focus has shifted to rallying support from more populist voices within the Republican Party, including Senator Bernie Moreno from Ohio, who suggested altering the filibuster rules during an appearance on Fox News last month. Moreno argued for making the vote strictly partisan, stating, “Let’s make this a Republican-only vote.”
Similarly, Senator Josh Hawley from Missouri expressed a willingness to dismantle the filibuster if necessary. He stated, “If I’ve got to choose between feeding 42 million Americans who are needy and have to have federal food assistance to eat, or defending the arcane rules of the Senate — I’m going to choose those people.”
Other Republican senators, such as Jim Banks from Indiana, have also indicated openness to changing the filibuster under certain conditions. Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri acknowledged Trump’s frustration but noted that he believed “Democrats are about to cave” in negotiations. When asked about his stance on the filibuster, Schmitt remained noncommittal, stating, “I said what I just said.”
Senate Democrats, on the other hand, are not overly concerned about Trump’s threats. They maintain confidence that Republicans will not yield to his demands. Senator Chris Van Hollen from Maryland remarked, “Republicans are rubber stamps for Donald Trump on everything else. This may be the one area where they’ve decided not to play ball.” Senator Jacky Rosen from Nevada emphasized, “The president is not in charge of the United States Congress, and we need to stand up and tell the president he is not a king.”
Trump’s perception of blame during government shutdowns has always leaned towards the presidency. Current polling reflects that a plurality of voters hold Republicans accountable for the shutdown. Many analysts expected Trump to capitulate sooner to Democratic demands regarding the Affordable Care Act subsidies, set to expire for approximately 22 million recipients.
During his first term, Trump similarly pressured then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to eliminate the filibuster altogether.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on Trump’s stance, stating, “He feels really strongly about this. Republicans need to play tough and they need to play smart.” When asked about Trump’s future interactions with Republican senators, Leavitt advised observers to “stay tuned” and follow his statements on Truth Social, where he continues to clarify his position on the matter.
