WASHINGTON D.C, Nov 6, 2025 – Ia fiery Oval Office address Thursday, President Donald Trump called on Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster rule, arguing it would allow swift passage of election security measures like mandatory voter ID and restrictions on mail-in ballots—moves he framed as essential to “clean up” American democracy and end the ongoing government shutdown.
Speaking from behind the Resolute Desk, flanked by key aides including First Lady Melania Trump and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Trump declared: “I think it’s time for them to end the filibuster and just put everybody back to work—vote in voter ID, vote in no mail-in voting, except for military.” He extended the pitch to broader priorities, including immigration reforms, tax cuts, and border security enhancements, warning that failure to act would hand Democrats the tools to reshape the Senate through statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, court packing, and other maneuvers.
The remarks, captured in a 77-second clip shared widely on social media by the pro-Trump PAC America (@america on X), come as a partial government shutdown enters its second week, triggered by partisan clashes over spending bills and debt ceiling hikes. Trump blamed Democrats for the impasse, accusing them of using the filibuster as a “weapon” to block Republican priorities, and predicted they would “do it 100%” if they regained leverage—referencing past efforts thwarted by moderate Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema.
“I’d like to see one day of voting, not 65 days of voting from all over the place,” Trump added, alluding to extended early voting periods he has long criticized as ripe for fraud. He exempted overseas military personnel and the “very sick” from his proposed mail-in curbs, emphasizing a streamlined system to restore public trust in elections.
The president’s intervention has ignited a fierce debate within GOP ranks, with some senators signaling openness to reform while others defend the 60-vote threshold as a bulwark against extremism. Indiana Sen. Jim Banks voiced agreement, telling reporters: “I do agree with him… We must seize this moment.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton echoed the sentiment on X, posting: “President Trump is absolutely right that it’s time to end the filibuster.”
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and others pushed back, with Thune telling The Wall Street Journal that the filibuster promotes bipartisanship and that “nuking” it risks long-term damage to the chamber’s traditions. A Washington Examiner tally revealed a deepening GOP divide, with at least a dozen senators now leaning toward reform under Trump’s pressure, up from just a handful last month.
Democrats swiftly condemned the proposal as a power grab. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “desperate electioneering” in a hallway presser, linking it to Trump’s unsubstantiated 2020 fraud claims. Advocacy groups on both sides mobilized: The Brennan Center for Justice decried voter ID mandates as voter suppression targeting minorities, while the Heritage Foundation hailed them as “common-sense safeguards” already in place in half of U.S. states.
Trump’s anti-filibuster crusade marks a reversal from his first term, when he occasionally defended the rule, and ties directly to his vow for “voter reform” in a post-election agenda. With Republicans holding slim majorities in both chambers, the shutdown—now furloughing thousands of federal workers—could drag into mid-November if no compromise emerges. White House officials hinted at a Friday briefing to outline contingency plans, including executive actions on immigration that bypass Congress.
The clip’s viral spread on X, amassing over 36,000 views in under 24 hours, has fueled online fervor. Supporters praised it as “bold leadership,” while critics, including one user lamenting Trump’s “weak-willed” Senate allies, questioned its feasibility. As the shutdown bites, Trump’s gambit could redefine the 119th Congress—or fracture his party’s fragile unity.
