The morning after a dominant Democratic performance in the 2025 elections, Donald Trump had one priority on his mind in remarks to Senate Republicans: eliminate the filibuster.

Trump on the need to abolish the filibuster: "It will be impossible to beat us."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-11-05T13:41:54.527Z

Repeatedly at his White House event, Trump implored GOP senators to execute the so-called nuclear option and bring a rapid end to legislative filibusters, claiming that such a move would make it “impossible to beat” Republicans in upcoming elections. “If we do what I’m saying,” he added, Democrats will “most likely never obtain power.”.....

What the president might not fully understand, however, is how counterproductive this lobbying campaign is.

For one thing, the more he begs his own party’s senators to take the radical step they’re refusing to take, the weaker he appears.

For another, the Republican Party’s message for weeks has been “The shutdown is the Democrats’ fault, and it’s up to them to end the standoff.” Trump is undermining that talking point with increasing frequency, effectively telling the public that there’s something GOP senators could do to resolve the shutdown on their own, if only they’d take his advice.

If recent history is any guide, the president will continue to obsess over this, but he isn’t doing his party any favors.