Trump Urges Republicans to Ditch Filibuster, End Shutdown with Simple Majority Vote

U.S. President Donald Trump Urges Republicans to End Senate Filibuster to End Shutdown President Donald Trump has called on the Republicans to use the nuclear option and eliminate the Senate filibuster, allowing them to pass legislation with a simple majority and end the ongoing government shutdown. In a post on Truth Social, Trump argued that the Democrats had wanted to end the filibuster when they were in power, but were blocked by the Republicans. According to Trump, he was repeatedly asked during his recent trip to Asia about how the Democrats were able to shut down the government, and why the Republicans allowed it to happen. Trump claimed that he had given the matter considerable thought and had come to the conclusion that the Republicans should use the nuclear option to pass legislation without the need for a supermajority. The government shutdown, which began on October 15, has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay and has caused disruptions to various government services. Trump's call for the Republicans to use the nuclear option to end the shutdown has sparked immediate reactions from lawmakers and experts. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not publicly commented on Trump's proposal, but sources close to the senator have indicated that he is unlikely to support the idea of eliminating the filibuster. Democrats, meanwhile, have criticized Trump's proposal as an attempt to undermine the Senate's ability to provide checks and balances on the executive branch. The filibuster, which has been in place since the early 20th century, allows the Senate to delay or block legislation with a supermajority of 60 votes. Eliminating the filibuster would require a simple majority vote, which the Republicans currently do not have. The next steps in this developing story are unclear, but it is likely that the issue will be the subject of intense debate and negotiation in the coming days.