Trump warns of consequences if GOP fails to kill the filibuster

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

After an election night in which Democrats scored major victories, President Donald Trump convened the GOP senators at the White House, urging them to terminate the filibuster.

The president began the breakfast by commenting on Tuesday night’s elections, saying that it was not a good night for Republicans. He underscored the shutdown as a significant factor in the losses, while mirroring it with his historic victory one year ago to the day.

“We are in the midst of a disastrous Democrat-created shutdown…that’s now officially the longest shutdown in American history. The Democrat radicals in the Senate have shown zero interest in reopening the government…they’ll take down the country if they have to,” the president told the senators.

He compared Democrats to kamikaze pilots in his criticism.

Trump warned the senators that if they don’t eliminate the filibuster, arguing that Democrats will pack the courts, going as far as saying they could add up to nine seats to the U.S. Supreme Court. He continued by cautioning that Democrats will move to make Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico states, adding four Senate seats for Democrats.

He underscores to the GOP that “can’t be extorted” by Democrats.

“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do – and that’s terminate the filibuster,” said the president.

He added that Democrats will likely do the same upon recapturing the Senate, arguing that the two moderates were pushed out last term.

“If I thought that they weren’t going to pass the filibuster, I wouldn’t even bring it up. They’re going to pass it within the first hour…if [Democrats] take power…they’ll wreak havoc,” the president added.

The president also pleaded with the senators to terminate the filibuster to reopen the government, casting doubt on the Democrats coming to the table anytime soon.

“I think it’s very important. We have to get the country open, and the way we’re going to do it…is to terminate the filibuster…It’s time,” said Trump.

Wednesday marks 36 days since the federal government shutdown after the Senate failed to pass the Continuing Resolution passed by the House.