Trump Escalates Push to End the Senate Filibuster — Thune and Most GOP Senators Resist

President Donald Trump continues to press for eliminating the Senate filibuster, a move that is creating friction with Majority Leader John Thune and much of the Senate Republican conference ahead of a busy and consequential legislative calendar.

Where Things Stand

Trump argues that scrapping the filibuster would allow Republicans to bypass legislative gridlock and act more decisively on priorities ranging from spending to health care. But the filibuster remains firmly supported by many Senate Republicans, and changing the rule would require 60 votes or a rules change that the GOP currently lacks.

“I know this has been an important priority for the president, but I think he has too many people telling him that this is achievable when it doesn’t strike me as achievable,”

Senate Dynamics

Last month, Thune and other Senate Republicans quickly rejected Trump’s call to repeal the filibuster as a solution to the recent, record‑long government shutdown. Still, Trump’s sustained push has nudged a small group of senators toward his position: Sen. Ron Johnson (R‑Wis.) said he reversed his view during the shutdown, and Sen. Josh Hawley (R‑Mo.) and others publicly back eliminating the rule.

At the same time, a majority of rank‑and‑file Republicans — including Sen. John Kennedy (R‑La.) — say repeal is unlikely. Several senators have expressed concern about altering long‑standing Senate procedures and about the political consequences of removing an institutional safeguard that often forces compromise.

Political Stakes

Lawmakers confront an immediate slate of deadlines and priorities: Congress must fund the government by Jan. 30 to avoid another shutdown, address rising health‑care costs, finish the farm bill, renew key surveillance authorities and consider permitting reform. Those looming items increase the stakes of any filibuster fight and could prompt renewed pressure from the White House.

The White House has amplified the rhetoric on social media. In a Truth Social post, Trump warned that Democrats would “pack the Supreme Court” unless Republicans “TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER,” arguing repeal would help GOP prospects in upcoming midterms and the 2028 presidential race.

Parliamentarian and Reconciliation

Some allies urged firing the Senate parliamentarian during a summer reconciliation debate; Thune refused to remove or overrule the nonpartisan official. The White House has suggested reconciliation could be used for future measures — a move that would again put the parliamentarian and Senate rules at the center of intra‑party tensions.

Outlook

For now, the filibuster fight is a test of Thune’s leadership: he must balance a president demanding sweeping change with a caucus wary of abandoning institutional norms. While Trump’s pressure may shift a handful of senators, most GOP lawmakers appear reluctant to pursue rule changes that would require broad support or could be reciprocated by Democrats in the future.

Key Quotes

• Sen. John Kennedy: “We’re just not going to get rid of the filibuster.”
• Sen. Tommy Tuberville: Republicans should act before Democrats potentially eliminate the rule when they regain power.
• Person close to leadership: “This isn’t a relationship dealbreaker.”