House Speaker Johnson Stands by Senate Filibuster as Trump Pushes for Change

By Mark Swanson | Monday, 03 November 2025 06:22 PM EST

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., reaffirmed his support for maintaining the Senate filibuster, stating Monday that the issue was discussed with President Donald Trump over the weekend. Trump has repeatedly urged Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to eliminate the filibuster to facilitate government reopening, but Thune, Johnson, and other Republicans have consistently opposed the move.

The debate centers on the 60-vote threshold required to pass a continuing resolution and end the government shutdown. Without the filibuster, Republicans could secure the necessary 50 votes to approve stopgap funding. Johnson acknowledged the pressure but emphasized the filibuster’s role as a safeguard. “Desperate times call for desperate measures, but traditionally, we’ve seen that as an important safeguard,” he told reporters.

Johnson noted that Senate Republicans, including some of the most conservative members, view the filibuster as a check on Democratic actions. He warned that abolishing it could lead to extreme measures such as Supreme Court expansion, granting statehood to Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, restricting Second Amendment rights, and federalizing elections.

Thune reiterated Monday that removing the filibuster lacks sufficient support, while Trump urged Republicans to “not be weak and stupid” in a Saturday address. Despite repeated calls from Trump, Johnson and Thune have resisted, with Johnson citing concerns about partisan repercussions. “If the shoe was on the other foot, I don’t think our team would like it,” he said Friday.

Mark Swanson, a Newsmax writer and editor with nearly three decades of political coverage experience, reported this story.