President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and eliminate the filibuster on Thursday.
Trump argued that doing so would allow them to finally end the government shutdown and push through legislation with a majority vote.
In a post on Truth Social, the president declared, “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!”
Trump pointed out that Democrats had previously supported abolishing the filibuster during the Biden administration and said Republicans should follow through now that they control the Senate.
🚨Time to play the TRUMP card?
POTUS: "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!"
Pres Trump calls on the Republican-led Senate to initiate the “nuclear… pic.twitter.com/YWDESY2QPd
— ⚜️💎👑 Queen Katerina 👑💎⚜️ (@QueenDarbyy) October 31, 2025
He warned that Democrats would have done the same if the opportunity had been reversed.
“Well, now WE are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying ‘SHUT DOWN,'” Trump posted.
He added that if Republicans failed to act, Democrats would eventually eliminate the rule when they regained power and use it to push policies such as statehood for Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.
The filibuster requires 60 votes to advance most legislation in the Senate, effectively giving the minority party leverage over the majority.
While judicial and executive branch nominees now only need a simple majority, the legislative filibuster remains in place, often stalling contentious bills.
Republicans have reportedly been growing more frustrated as the shutdown stretches beyond 30 days, with discussions intensifying about changing Senate rules if Democrats continue blocking GOP efforts to reopen the government.
Senate Democrats have remained unified in opposition, insisting they will only support a continuing resolution if it includes an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire later this year.
Late Thursday, Trump lashed out again at Democrats over ObamaCare, writing on Truth Social, “As I have said for years, OBAMACARE IS A DISASTER! Rates are going through the roof for really bad healthcare!!! Do something Democrats!!!”
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Open enrollment begins November 1, and without congressional action, health care premiums are expected to soar.
Republicans, however, say they are open to extending subsidies if meaningful reforms accompany the move.
( @realDonaldTrump – Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump – Oct 30, 2025, 8:46 PM ET )As I have said for years, OBAMACARE IS A DISASTER! Rates are going through the roof for really bad healthcare!!! Do something Democrats!!! pic.twitter.com/D5gZQm4zv7
— Fan Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) October 31, 2025
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said earlier this week, “The expiring ObamaCare subsidy at the end of the year is a serious problem. If you look at it objectively, you know that it is subsidizing bad policy. We’re throwing good money at a bad, broken system, and so it needs real reforms.”
The shutdown has also jeopardized key federal assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to millions of Americans.
Lawmakers from both parties have cautioned that benefits will begin expiring on November 1 if funding is not approved.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota delivered an impassioned floor speech Wednesday, rebuking Democrats for introducing a bill to fund SNAP after voting against 13 separate Republican efforts to reopen the government.
“Let me just point out, if I might, that we are 29 days into a Democrat shutdown, and the senator from New Mexico was absolutely right: SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country,” Thune said, referring to Democratic Sen. Ben Ray Luján.
“And we’ve tried to do that 13 times,” Thune continued. “You voted no 13 times.”
The South Dakota Republican accused Democrats of playing politics with ordinary Americans’ livelihoods, adding that the consequences of their actions are only now becoming clear to them.
“This isn’t a political game,” he said. “These are real people’s lives that we’re talking about. And you all just figured out 29 days in that, ‘Oh, there might be some consequences.”
“There are people who’ll run out of money?’ Yeah, we’re 29 days in, and they’ve done their best to make sure that a lot of these programs are funded, but at some point the government runs out of money.”
Republicans and Democrats have proposed competing SNAP bills. GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced a version supported by at least ten Republican senators and one Democrat, while Luján’s bill has the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and most Democrats.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has moved to ensure military members receive their pay despite the ongoing shutdown.
A senior White House budget official said that the administration plans to tap various Defense Department accounts to cover the costs.
About $2.5 billion from the military housing fund created under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill will be used to meet payroll obligations, along with $1.4 billion each from the Pentagon’s research and development and procurement accounts.
A Pentagon official told NBC News that the president is determined to protect service members’ paychecks even as Democrats refuse to act.
“President Trump is continuing to make good on his promise to take care of the troops despite the fact Democrats have shut down the government and are fine with our bravest men and women getting no pay,” the official said.
