US President Donald Trump has urged the Senate to abolish the filibuster rule to allow Republicans to end the ongoing federal government shutdown, which has now entered its 31st day, nearing a record duration in US history.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump lashed out at Democrats, calling them “Crazed Lunatics” and accused them of deliberately blocking government funding.

“It is now time for the 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!” Trump wrote.

“We are in power, and if we did what we should be doing, it would immediately end this ridiculous, country-destroying shutdown,” he added.

What is the Filibuster?

The filibuster is a long-standing Senate procedure that allows extended debate to delay or block legislation, requiring a 60-vote supermajority to advance most bills. Currently, Republicans hold a 53–47 majority, but ending the filibuster — known as the “nuclear option” — would only need a simple majority.

Political Standoff Deepens

Since October 1, when the new fiscal year began, Senate Democrats have blocked efforts to advance a Republican bill that would extend government funding. Democrats are demanding that Republicans reverse proposed cuts to Medicaid — a federal program that provides healthcare to millions of low-income Americans — and prevent rising insurance premiums.

The deadlock is already impacting federal operations. Essential government employees continue to work without pay, awaiting reimbursement after the shutdown ends.

Most recently, US air traffic controllers were notified that they would not receive paychecks this month, raising serious concerns about safety and morale among the already short-staffed workforce responsible for managing thousands of daily flights.

Economic Toll Rising

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) warned this week that the shutdown could cost the US economy between $7 billion and $14 billion, depending on its duration and impact on federal services and consumer confidence.

Trump’s Reaction After Asia Tour

Trump made his remarks after returning from a multi-nation Asia tour, which included stops in Qatar, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, where he held a major summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In his post, Trump said that global leaders repeatedly asked how Democrats managed to “shut down the United States of America,” prompting him to rethink Senate rules.

“The one question that kept coming up was how did the Democrats shut down the United States, and why did the powerful Republicans allow them to do it?” Trump wrote.

“The fact is, in flying back, I thought a great deal about that question — WHY?”

He added that if Democrats return to power, they would likely end the filibuster “on their first day in office” to push through their legislative agenda.

Longest Shutdown Looms

If the stalemate continues beyond 35 days, it will become the longest government shutdown in US history, surpassing the 2019 shutdown that also occurred during Trump’s presidency.