President Donald Trump has called for congressional Republicans to invoke the nuclear option to end the ongoing shutdown, prompting a debate over whether such a move would be wise.
“Because of the fact that the Democrats have gone stone cold ‘crazy,’ the choice is clear — initiate the ‘nuclear option,’ get rid of the filibuster and, make America great again!” the president wrote on Truth Social in all caps late Thursday.
In an additional post, he called for Republicans to play what he termed their “TRUMP CARD.”
“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.
He continued the post by noting how Democrats have been trying to rid themselves of the filibuster for years so that they can effectively ruin the country by packing the Supreme Court, making D.C. and Puerto Rico into states, and much, much more.
Trump then predicted that Democrats will end the filibuster the next time they regain power and argued that this therefore is why Republicans must take advantage of the current moment and eliminate it themselves.
“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,'” he wrote.
“In addition to all of the other things we would get, such as the best Judges, the best U.S. Attorneys, the best of everything, this was a concept from years ago of then President Barack Hussein Obama and former Majority Leader Harry Reid in order to take advantage of the Republicans. Now I want to do it in order to take advantage of the Democrats,” he concluded.
His request sparked an immediate debate over the wisdom or lack thereof of invoking the nuclear option.
A number of critics argued that, were Democrats to ever regain power after Republicans end the filibuster, America would be doomed to any and all of their silly “progressive” policy proposals,
“I don’t like that idea, Dems are getting the heat for the shutdown, let them wreck themselves,” one critic opined on X. “This works both ways and once Dems get the chance, say goodbye to the Supreme Court as we know it.”
“Conservatives and libertarians depended on that filibuster to protect us from Democrat excesses,” another critic wrote. “It’s the only reason we haven’t gotten the ball rolling on turning Washington DC and Puerto Rico into US States yet. This is crazy talk.”
But others maintained that Democrats will one day eliminate the filibuster anyway, which is why it’s incumbent on Republicans to eliminate it and take advantage of its elimination NOW.
If the GOP doesn’t do it, the Dems will.
— RoadtoDamascus (@PubliusTacitus4) October 31, 2025
This is why Vance said we should not be afraid to do something over fear of their retaliation. They do not play by rules
— Awesome A (@LaDeDa82) October 31, 2025
Great point by President Trump! The Democrats are going to get rid of the filibuster anyway, when the Democrats are back in power. So Republicans should get rid of the filibuster NOW!
— Damian Ranger (@DamianRanger1) October 31, 2025
Do this, pass ALL the things. Repeal obamacare, repeal NFA, pass stronger border protections, pass national voter id and in person paper ballots, pass a 3 strikes rule where u get 3 state felonies u go to federal pen, pass MAHA stuff, pass sane emissions standards, pass it all!
— jacjakjack (@jacjakjackson) October 31, 2025
The good news for the president’s critics is that he’s unlikely to get his way.
Politico notes that Sens. Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Thom Tillis in particular “could and likely will block any anti-filibuster push.”
Politico also admits that ending the filibuster would end up benefitting Democrats bigly.
“A vote to kill the filibuster and end the shutdown would in some ways be the best-case scenario for Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats,” according to the outlet. “It would allow the government to reopen without them paying a political price with the party base — and hand them a powerful tool to use when they finally get power back.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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