WASHINGTON

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday warned against using the “nuclear option” to reopen the government, even as President Donald Trump called on Republicans to end the Senate filibuster.

“We haven’t spoken with (the president) since he returned (from Asia),” Johnson told reporters at a press conference. “What you’re seeing is an expression of the president’s anger at the situation. He is as angry, as I am and the American people are, about this madness, and he just desperately wants the government to be reopened.”

The filibuster is a way for a small group of senators to block action by the majority. It allows a minority of 41 senators to prevent a vote on most legislation. ​​​​​​​

Johnson said the issue was for senators to decide but stressed that the filibuster in the upper chamber has “traditionally been viewed as a very important safeguard.”

“If the shoe was on the other foot, I don’t think our team would like it,” he said, warning that Democrats could “pack the Supreme Court, make Puerto Rico and D.C. states ban firearms and do all sorts of things that would be very harmful for the country.”

“And the safeguard in the Senate has always been a filibuster,” he added.

“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 Thursday on his Truth Social account.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said last week it would be a “bad idea” to kill the rule to end the shutdown.