Few subjects cause more heated arguments among policy wonks than the filibuster – is it an outdated, obstructionist relic, or a sacred tool for defending democracy? Neither the Constitution nor the Federalist Papers mentions the procedural rule, which derives from the Dutch word for “freebooter” (pirate), indicating that it hijacks legislators’ time.
The custom allows senators on one side of the aisle to delay action on measures by extending debate, and can only be overcome by 60 senators voting for cloture.
Donald Trump has come out in favor of the so-called “nuclear option” — getting rid of the filibuster once and for all — while Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is firmly against such a move, as is Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD).
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt weighed in on the matter in an episode of Pod Force One released Wednesday, and she wasn’t shy about where she stood: Nuke it.
🚨 JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt DEMANDS Senate Republicans finally nuke the filibuster 60-vote rule, so President Trump "can have the most productive 3 years of any president EVER"
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) November 19, 2025
"Election integrity, voter ID, getting rid of universal mail-in ballots...There's so much that can be… pic.twitter.com/AjPiNmZJ1H
The above tweet continues:
There's so much that can be accomplished and we must take advantage!"
"We need to let go of the filibuster. It's not serving the purpose that it originally intended to serve."
GET IT DONE, SENATE GOP!
The clock is ticking for the midterms!
Leavitt argued that Trump has limited time in office to accomplish his goals, and it’s going to be almost impossible as long as Democrats can use the filibuster to gum up the works:
Leavitt argued that much of the president’s efforts to reform federal voting laws in particular would be eased if Senate Republicans agreed to do away with the 60-vote threshold needed to pass most legislation in their chamber.
“Republicans need to get off their butts and move and that’s what the president wants to see them do and that’s what the American people are expecting,” she said.
READ MORE: Check Out the Dems' Hypocritical Filibuster Follies, Starring Chuck Schumer
Trump at Senate GOP Breakfast Calls Once Again to Nuke the Filibuster and Push His Agenda Through
Leavitt continued:
“There’s so much more work to do — election integrity, voter ID, getting rid of universal mail in ballots — all of that can be done if Congress works together and gets rid of the filibuster,” she added.
“So, the President is definitely talking a lot about that, both publicly and privately. I know he’s expressed his opinion on that to leaders in the Senate who may agree or disagree. We’ll have to see how it shakes out.”
There are many opinions on the “nuclear option,” and one of the most persuasive arguments for keeping it is that someday the tables are likely to be turned and the Democrats will be back in control. The late Dem Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada found that out the hard way in 2013 when he got rid of the filibuster for most presidential nominations. That came back to bite him in the arse when Trump won the presidency a mere three years later and was able to take full advantage.
That being said, the filibuster is also a source of deep frustration for many, as Leavitt's arguments prove. Until and unless Grassley, Thune, and other supporters in the Senate change their minds, however, it looks like it’s staying here for at least the time being.
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