Trump calls for use of nuclear option, ending filibuster to end shutdown

Oct. 31 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump has urged Senate Republicans to "get rid of the filibuster," allowing them to pass legislation with a simple majority and end the government shutdown, which entered its 31st day Friday.

The president's suggestion would have the majority party of the Senate implement a so-called nuclear option, which ends the need for a 60-vote supermajority typically required to pass legislation in the upper chamber.

The Senate has failed to pass House-backed legislation to temporarily fund the government in 13 votes since Oct. 1.

"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 posted on his social media site Truth Social on Thursday.

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Called the "nuclear option" because it's an extreme option in the normal course of Senate business, both parties have used the approach sparingly over the years. The most recent example was in 2019, when Senate Republicans used a simple majority vote to reduce debate time on the confirmation process for certain Trump nominees.

The vote was intended to speed the confirmation process for a backlog of lower-level nominees, but left the debate time unchanged for Cabinet-level, federal appeals judges and certain other nominations.

Despite the 2019 move, Republicans have historically opposed the use of the nuclear option in the hopes of not setting a precedent for the next time Democrats are in power, CNN reported.

However, The Hill reported that some Senate Republicans have discussed the possibility in recent days to end the government shutdown, which began Oct. 1. Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota said he's against touching the filibuster.

Trump cited Democrats' most recent attempt at a nuclear option, in 2022, to support his push. At that time, Democrats failed to change filibuster rules to allow the chamber to use a simple majority to pass new voting rights legislation. Then-Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., voted against the move in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation.

Trump accused the Democrats of wanting to "pack" the Supreme Court and expand control in Congress by making Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico states.

"Well, now WE are in power, and if we what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying 'SHUT DOWN,'" Trump wrote.

"If the Democrats ever came back into power, which would be made easier for them if the Republicans are not using the Great Strength and Policies made available to us by ending the Filibuster, the Democrats will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office, regardless of whether we do it or not."

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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell announces a quarter-percent interest rate cut Wednesday during a news conference at the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo