Trump's week in review: SNAP suspension; meeting with Xi; refugee ceiling cut to record low

By Ryan Foley, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, November 01, 2025

The United States Capitol n Washington D.C. | The Christian Post/Nicole Alcindor

2. Trump calls for the Senate to invoke the nuclear option to end shutdown

In a Truth Social post reflecting on his trip to Asia, Trump also weighed in on the ongoing government shutdown, which will have gone on for exactly one month as of Saturday.

The shutdown stems from the fact that, while Republicans have a majority in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, they hold only 53 seats in the Senate. Since it takes 60 votes to pass the bill to reopen the government, Republicans do not have enough votes to advance the legislation on their own without securing support from at least some Democrats.

So far, not enough Democrats have voted to reopen the government to reach the 60-vote threshold. Trump called on "Republicans to play their 'TRUMP CARD,' and go for what is called the Nuclear Option — Get rid of the Filibuster, and get rid of it, NOW!"

Invoking the "nuclear option" would enable the Senate to abolish the filibuster, specifically the 60-vote threshold, and allow legislation to pass with a simple majority of 51 votes.

"If we did what we should be doing, it would IMMEDIATELY end this ridiculous, Country destroying 'SHUT DOWN,'" Trump proclaimed. "If the Democrats ever came back into power, which would be made easier for them if the Republicans are not using the Great Strength and Policies made available to us by ending the Filibuster, the Democrats will exercise their rights, and it will be done in the first day they take office, regardless of whether or not we do it."

Trump's remarks suggest that failure to abolish the filibuster would demoralize Republicans and thereby enable the Democrats to win control of the Senate. He noted that Democrats' previous efforts to abolish the filibuster were unsuccessful because of opposition from two of their own senators, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who later became independents and have since left office.