Trump Warns GOP to Kill 60-Vote Filibuster or Face 4 New Democratic Senators
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Sep 22
Trump Warns GOP to Kill 60-Vote Filibuster or Face 4 New Democratic Senators
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 22
Summary
Trump told Senate Republicans that unless they scrap the 60-vote filibuster, he could be the last Republican president, arguing Democrats would otherwise lock in long-term power.
His warning centers on Democratic statehood for Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, which he said would add 4 senators, 8 House members and more electoral votes tilted heavily toward Democrats.
The immediate fight is over Trump’s stalled SAVE America Act, which Democrats and a handful of Republicans have blocked under current Senate rules requiring bipartisan support for most bills.
That pressure is unlikely to move Senate GOP leaders: John Thune has repeatedly said Republicans lack the votes to end the filibuster, and earlier this month said at least half the conference wants to keep it.
Democrats have already pushed D.C. and Puerto Rico statehood legislation before, making the filibuster a proxy battle over both Trump’s agenda and future control of Congress and presidential elections.