Republicans and Democrats remained at a stalemate on the government shutdown over the weekend as it headed into its sixth week, with food aid potentially delayed or suspended for millions of Americans and US President Donald Trump pushing Republican leaders to change Senate rules to end it.
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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Sunday that Trump has spoken to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson as he has publicly and repeatedly pushed for an end to the Senate filibuster.
But Republicans have strongly rejected Trump’s calls since his first term, arguing that the rule requiring 60 votes to overcome any objections in the Senate is vital to the institution and has allowed them to stop Democratic policies when they are in the minority.
Leavitt on Sunday said the Democrats are “crazed people” who have not shown any signs of budging.
“That’s why President Trump has said Republicans need to get tough, they need to get smart, and they need to use this option to get rid of the filibuster, to reopen the government and do right by the American public,” Leavitt said on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures.
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Democrats have voted 13 times against reopening the government, denying Republicans the votes in the 53-47 Senate as they insist on negotiations to extend government healthcare subsidies that will be cut off at the end of the year. Republicans say they will not negotiate until the government is reopened.