Fox News Interrupts programming for Trump‘s Call to End Senate Filibuster
Fox News interrupted its regular schedule on November 5th to broadcast remarks from former President Donald Trump, who issued a strong call to eliminate the Senate filibuster amidst a potential government shutdown.Trump warned that without ending the practise, the Republican party woudl be unable to pass legislation during the remaining three years of the current presidential term.
The filibuster, a Senate tradition allowing for unlimited debate to delay or block votes, currently requires a 60-vote supermajority to overcome through a process called cloture.This threshold presents a challenge for Republicans,who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate,necessitating support from at least seven Democrats to pass legislation,including funding bills to avert a government shutdown.
Trump’s comments followed recent Democratic victories in several key races, including gubernatorial wins in New Jersey and Virginia, and a mayoral election in New York. He also voiced support for former New York Governor andrew Cuomo’s independent mayoral bid. Additionally, a California ballot measure passed that coudl perhaps allow Democrats to gain additional seats in the 2026 midterm elections.
The former President has also taken to his Truth Social platform to urge senators to abolish the 60-vote requirement.
The filibuster itself is not enshrined in the US Constitution, nor was it established by a specific law.The Constitution grants the Senate the authority to set its own internal rules. Historically, senators could utilize filibusters to obstruct proceedings. The cloture process, initially requiring a two-thirds supermajority in 1917, was later reduced to three-fifths of all senators – the current 60-vote threshold – in 1975. Trump argues that eliminating this requirement is the “only way” to ensure legislative progress.