Trump reiterates demand to eliminate filibuster, warns of legislative paralysis

ISTANBUL

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday renewed his demand for Republicans to eliminate the Senate filibuster, warning the party will be unable to pass legislation without the change.

"It's time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that's terminate the filibuster. It's the only way you can do it," Trump told Republican senators during a breakfast meeting.

He predicted legislative paralysis if the 60-vote threshold remains. "If you don't terminate the filibuster, you'll be in bad shape. We won't pass any legislation," he said, "for three and a quarter years."

Trump was skeptical that Democrats would support Republican legislation, calling them "kamikaze pilots" willing to "take down the country if they have to."

He argued that eliminating the filibuster would allow unprecedented legislative success. "We have to get the country going. We will pass legislation at levels you've never seen before, and it'll be impossible to beat us," he said.

Addressing the government shutdown's effect on food assistance for low-income families, Trump claimed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) expanded dramatically under former President Joe Biden.

"When I was president, we had $7 billion worth, and now they have many times that," he said, estimating levels at $47 billion.

He accused the Biden administration of giving benefits "to anybody that wanted it" rather than reserving them for people "down and out" who "really had problems."

Trump said Tuesday that food assistance benefits will be provided only when Democrats agree to end the government shutdown, though his administration announced Monday it would release emergency funds to cover half of November's food assistance benefits, following court orders.

Trump also criticized the blue slip tradition allowing home-state senators to block judicial nominees, saying it "takes away the right from me" to pick judges and US attorneys. He indicated plans to challenge the practice in court.

The federal government shutdown entered day 36 Wednesday -- the longest in US history.

A 14th Senate vote Tuesday failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to pass a temporary budget bill.

The shutdown began Oct. 1 after Congress failed to approve appropriations for the 2026 fiscal year.