Amid a grinding government shutdown now in its second month, Senate Republicans find themselves at odds with President Donald Trump over a radical proposal to ditch the filibuster.
According to Newsmax, the clash centers on Trump’s push to abolish the Senate’s 60-vote threshold for passing legislation, a move resisted by key GOP figures like Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., who warn of dangerous long-term fallout if Democrats ever reclaim full power.
Trump has ramped up pressure on his party to trigger the so-called “nuclear option,” which would allow the Republican majority to steamroll legislative priorities without a single Democratic vote. But Senate Republicans, with Mullin at the forefront, are digging in their heels. They argue that such a power grab could backfire spectacularly down the road.
The ongoing government shutdown, stretching into its second month, has only intensified the stakes of this debate. Democrats, according to Mullin, are wielding the filibuster to block Trump’s nominees and using the shutdown as leverage against the American people. It’s a messy standoff, and Trump sees scrapping the 60-vote rule as the quick fix.
Yet Mullin, speaking to Newsmax on Friday, made it crystal clear that the idea isn’t gaining traction among his colleagues. “Right now, it's not on the table,” he declared with a firmness that leaves little room for wiggle. That’s a polite but pointed rebuff to the president’s urgency, signaling a GOP not ready to gamble its future.
Why the hesitation? Mullin argues the filibuster has been a shield for conservatives in the past, notably during Joe Biden’s administration, when it blocked progressive policies that could have reshaped the nation’s core. Tossing it aside now might feel good, but it’s a Pandora’s box waiting to unleash chaos if the political tides turn.
Mullin didn’t mince words about the risks, painting a grim picture of what Democrats might do with unchecked power. “You heard the president say that the first thing they would do is pack the courts,” he cautioned on Newsmax. That alone should give any conservative pause, as it threatens the judiciary’s balance.
“Then they would try to make D.C. a state. Then they would go after trying to federalize our election system,” Mullin continued. It’s a slippery slope, as he aptly called it, and one that could erode the very structures conservatives hold dear. The senator’s warning isn’t just hypothetical—it’s rooted in the filibuster’s proven track record of protecting Republican interests. Without that 60-vote barrier, the door swings wide open for a progressive agenda to bulldoze through if Democrats regain control of Congress and the White House. It’s a risk too steep for many in the GOP to stomach.
Still, the current gridlock isn’t helping Trump’s case for patience. Democrats’ relentless filibustering of nominees and their role in prolonging the shutdown are testing Republican resolve. Mullin acknowledged this frustration, hinting that the conversation could shift if the obstruction persists.
“If we continue down this path and we're not able to get out of a shutdown, and the Democrats continue to walk down this path by filibustering all the president's nominees, by holding up the government and holding the American people as leverage, then it may force the conversation a lot further,” he told Newsmax. That’s not a promise to cave, but a warning that even the staunchest defenders of tradition have their limits.
For now, though, the votes simply aren’t there to dismantle the filibuster, as Mullin bluntly admitted. Senate Republicans are playing the long game, prioritizing governance over short-term wins. It’s a pragmatic stance, even if it risks ruffling feathers in the White House.
This isn’t just a policy spat—it’s a battle over principle versus expediency in a time of crisis. While Trump’s impatience with Senate rules is understandable given the shutdown’s toll on Americans, Mullin’s caution reflects a deeper concern for preserving checks on power. It’s a rare moment of GOP restraint in an era often defined by bold moves.
The filibuster debate underscores a broader tension within the Republican Party: how to advance a conservative agenda without torching the safeguards that might one day protect it. Mullin’s stance is a reminder that governance isn’t just about winning today’s fight—it’s about ensuring the battlefield isn’t rigged against you tomorrow.
As the shutdown drags on and Democrats dig in, the pressure on Senate Republicans will only grow. Yet for now, Mullin and his allies stand as a firewall against a decision that could haunt conservatives for decades. It’s a high-stakes chess match, and the next move remains anyone’s guess.
