Trump Warns He'll Be 'Last Republican President' If Senate GOP Won't Kill Filibuster

Former President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Senate Republicans: eliminate the legislative filibuster, or he may be the last Republican president.

Trump has long advocated for ending the filibuster, a Senate rule requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation, arguing it obstructs his agenda, such as the SAVE America Act. His latest appeal, posted on Truth Social, contends that if Republicans fail to act, Democrats will eventually abolish the filibuster themselves. He further asserts that this would lead to Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico becoming states, tilting the electoral balance permanently in favor of Democrats.

"If Senate Republicans don’t TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, the Dumocrats will, and I will be, despite how well our Party is doing, the last Republican President," Trump stated. He projected that statehood for Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico would result in Democrats gaining four Senate seats and numerous House seats, along with significant popular and electoral vote gains. "It will be impossible for Republicans to ever win an Election again. In other words, it will be THE END OF AMERICA!" he declared.

Trump’s argument highlights the potential electoral impact of admitting Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico as states. Voters in Washington D.C. currently participate in presidential primaries and general elections, and have consistently favored Democratic candidates. Puerto Rico's voters can participate in presidential primaries, but not federal elections. Both territories currently have non-voting representation in Congress.

Democrats have previously supported legislation to grant statehood to these territories. Trump's allies have also pointed to the SAVE America Act, which has faced opposition from Democrats and some Republicans, as an example of how the filibuster hinders Republican priorities.

The filibuster was last challenged in 2022 when Democrats controlled the Senate, but efforts to alter the rules for voting rights legislation were unsuccessful. Current Senate Republican leadership, including Majority Leader John Thune, has consistently resisted calls to eliminate the filibuster. Thune has stated that a significant portion of Senate Republicans support maintaining the rule, viewing it as a safeguard against potential Democratic overreach.

"At some point, Democrats may try and steal the car, but we’re not going to hand them the keys," Thune said, adding that ending the filibuster would enable Democrats to enact policies such as admitting new states, federalizing elections, or expanding the Supreme Court.