‘Nuking’ the filibuster would only aid Democrats

Donald Trump keeps going nuclear. First it was his demand on Thursday that the Pentagon resume nuclear testing. Now he’s declaring that the Senate must abolish the filibuster in toto. In a post on his social media site, Trump announced: “THE CHOICE IS CLEAR – INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER.”

Are Republican senators seeking to duck and cover in the face of Trump’s exhortations? Not a chance. Rather, in an unusual turn of events, they are defying him.

Senate majority leader John Thune issued a statement on Friday morning indicating that he has not altered his views about amending the filibuster. Meanwhile, Senator John Curtis of Utah posted on X Friday morning that the filibuster “forces us to find common ground.” He added, “Power changes hands, but principles shouldn’t. I’m a firm no on eliminating it.” The votes to abolish the filibuster don’t exist no matter how much Trump himself may complain about this procedure.

There is an incongruity of interests between the White House and Capitol Hill. Now that he has basically precluded running for a third term, Trump has a different set of priorities than his Republican allies. He wants to rule, not govern. But polls indicate that the GOP continues to take on more water than Democrats over the government shutdown. At some point, Trump is going to have to dicker directly with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a fate that he presumably regards as only slightly less horrifying than the release of the Epstein Files.

Republicans are worried about a future Democratic administration passing sweeping legislation that would fundamentally alter the American economy and political system. The Republican party may control all three branches of government, but it’s overreach under Trump is more than likely to result in a backlash in the midterm elections. By 2028, Trump, whose popularity ratings are currently sagging, could be one of the most unpopular presidents in American history. This is why House speaker Mike Johnson stated that while he understands Trump’s vexation over the government shutdown, the “safeguard in the Senate has always been the filibuster.”

Trump’s impatience, however, is understandable. The notion that almost any legislation can be stymied because it requires a minimum of 60 senators to advance it is fundamentally undemocratic. Trump may well increase the pressure on Republicans in coming weeks as Americans become increasingly restive over the shutdown. Flight delays are bound to increase. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are about to expire. Alaskans are stockpiling caribou and moose. And so on.

If Trump were to prevail in overturning the filibuster, he would be doing Democrats an inadvertent solid. They could disclaim responsibility for the federal budget and point to the mounting healthcare costs that consumers are about to experience in the coming weeks. Above all, they would be positioned to enact their own sweeping reforms in the future. Say hello to statehood for Washington, DC and Puerto Rico and to sweeping firearms restrictions, among other things.

For now, Republicans are in lockstep – against Trump. As Senate Republicans refuse to accede to Trump’s command, his lame duck stuck is coming more clearly into view. In seeking to eliminate the filibuster, he has not weakened the Democrats. Instead, he is exposing the limits of the Republican party’s fealty to him.