Trump urges Republicans to end Senate filibuster to advance 2026 agenda and avoid shutdown
Former President Donald Trump has called for Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster, describing it as a barrier to effective governing and a key obstacle to passing major policy initiatives in 2026. In a Politico interview, Trump argued that ending the filibuster would prevent another government shutdown and enable swift action on important issues like health care.
The filibuster, which allows a minority in the Senate to block legislation, has long been defended as a safeguard against partisan excesses. However, Trump stated that with Republicans currently holding 53 Senate seats to the Democrats' 47, they have enough seats to pass bills by a simple majority if the filibuster were removed. He previously advocated for ending the filibuster in October to reopen the government without Democratic support, but Republicans did not act, resulting in a 43-day shutdown due to a standoff over healthcare costs.
Trump emphasized that the 2026 midterms would center on affordability, particularly pricing, and expressed confidence that voters would respond positively to efforts aimed at reducing costs. His comments follow two strong economic reports indicating cooling inflation and faster-than-expected growth, even as consumer economic insecurity remains a concern in polling.
