On November 5, the U.S. Senate rejected President Donald Trump's call to end the legislative filibuster, a procedural tactic that allows a minority to block bills. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that Republicans would not eliminate the filibuster.

President Trump urged Republicans to immediately abolish the filibuster to expedite the passage of bills and reopen the government, emphasizing the need to act "tonight." He warned that the ongoing government shutdown has severely impacted the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the aviation industry, and stock market operations, calling the shutdown a "major factor" in elections.

Earlier, on October 31, Trump had pushed Republican senators to invoke the so-called "nuclear option" to override the filibuster rule, which requires at least 60 votes to advance most legislation in the Senate. However, senior Republicans swiftly opposed the idea.

Under current Senate rules, most bills need 60 votes out of 100 to proceed. Although Republicans hold a 53-47 majority, they lack the 60-vote threshold, allowing Democrats to effectively block legislation through filibusters. As of November 5, a temporary funding bill to end the shutdown had failed 14 times in the Senate due to insufficient support.

Before Trump reiterated his demand to end the filibuster, Senate Republican leaders, including John Thune, had already voiced opposition. Thune argued that the filibuster "has long protected the country from extreme legislation." Several Republican senators warned that scrapping the rule could backfire, enabling Democrats to push through more radical agendas if they regain power in the future.