President Donald Trump took his pitch to nix the filibuster directly to Senate Republicans on Wednesday. They are once again saying, thanks, but no thanks.
Trump spent several minutes during a breakfast meeting with GOP senators at the White House urging them to eliminate the 60-vote supermajority requirement for most bills and reopen the government on party lines — even as he acknowledged Republicans might not do it and said he would ultimately respect their “wishes.”
“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do,” Trump said. “If you don’t terminate the filibuster you’ll be in bad shape.”
But Senate GOP leaders quickly reiterated that it’s simply not happening.
“I’ve said before there are not the votes there,” said Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), adding that Trump “could have some sway with members, but I just know where the math is on this issue in the Senate.”
Privately Republicans acknowledge they aren’t anywhere close to having the votes to change the rules. Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) pointed to the number of GOP senators who have recently backed the filibuster, adding that Trump is “very attuned to the political realities.”
Several GOP senators also reiterated Wednesday they would not support a change. Opposition from just four of the 53 Senate Republicans could stop Trump’s demand cold.
“I’d never vote to nuke the filibuster,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told reporters.
Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) similarly said in an interview, “I have long said I don’t support nuking the filibuster.” And Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a member of Senate GOP leadership, called the filibuster an “important aspect of how the Senate operates.”
The firm opposition hasn’t stopped Trump from hammering Republicans, arguing Democrats will do it when they have control. Republicans have resisted changing the rules in part because it would come back to bite them once they are back in the minority.
Trump appeared to acknowledge Wednesday that he doesn’t have the votes but said he hoped to sway some senators. “I’m going to go by your wishes,” he said, “but it’s a tremendous mistake.”
Nicholas Wu and Hailey Fuchs contributed to this report.
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