Republicans are swiftly pushing back against President Donald Trump's recent proposal to eliminate the Senate filibuster, insisting on maintaining the traditional 60-vote threshold even as the government shutdown reaches its 31st day. This resistance comes at a critical time as GOP leaders appeared close to an agreement that could potentially reopen federal agencies as early as next week.

Trump's unexpected revival of the "nuclear option" — a tactic to lower the vote requirement for passing legislation — was intended to empower Republican senators to resolve the shutdown independently. However, this suggestion has met significant resistance within his own party. Prominent GOP senators, including Majority Leader John Thune, have been vocal in defending the filibuster, viewing it as crucial to preserving the Senate's long-term conservative advantage.

Thune emphasized the importance of the filibuster earlier this month, stating, "The 60-vote threshold has protected this country." His spokesperson, Ryan Wrasse, reiterated on Friday that Thune's stance remains unchanged. Similarly, Kate Noyes, representing Senator John Barrasso, confirmed that the Wyoming senator continues to support the legislative filibuster.

Even Speaker Mike Johnson, who primarily deals with House affairs, voiced concerns about the implications of such a drastic rule change, highlighting the filibuster as a "very important safeguard."

Trump's push to eliminate the filibuster was articulated in a series of posts on Truth Social, where he described the Democrats as having gone "stone cold 'crazy'" and urged for immediate action to leverage the GOP's current majority. He also suggested that Democrats would abolish the filibuster themselves once they regain power.

Despite Trump's urgency, the proposal lacks sufficient support within the Republican ranks, according to insiders. Senators like John Curtis of Utah and Thom Tillis of North Carolina have publicly declared their opposition, emphasizing the filibuster's role in encouraging bipartisan cooperation.

The discord over the filibuster isn't limited to the Senate; it has also surfaced among House Republicans. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, for instance, has advocated for the Senate to adopt more aggressive tactics to pass spending legislation.

However, broader GOP sentiment appears aligned with Johnson's cautious approach. He attributed Trump's comments to frustration over the protracted shutdown, which threatens to surpass the longest on record. "What you're seeing is an expression of the president's anger at the situation," Johnson explained, underscoring the widespread exasperation over the ongoing government closure.

As negotiations continue and a bipartisan group of senators seeks a middle-ground solution, the debate over the filibuster underscores the complex dynamics at play within the Republican Party, revealing deep-seated concerns about the potential consequences of altering long-standing legislative safeguards.