President Donald Trump’s team is sending a major warning to Senate Republicans: act now or risk losing the chance to secure America’s elections, borders, and future.
During a new interview, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Senate Republicans must abolish the filibuster if they want Trump’s America-First agenda to move forward. And she made it clear the American people are tired of excuses.
Leavitt: “Republicans Need To Get Off Their Butts”
Speaking on Pod Force One with Miranda Devine, Leavitt said the 60-vote filibuster rule is blocking key Trump priorities, especially on election integrity, voter ID, and stopping universal mail-in ballots.
Leavitt didn’t sugarcoat it:
“Republicans need to get off their butts and move. We can secure our elections, pass voter ID, and get real reform — but only if Congress ends the filibuster.”
She emphasized that President Trump wants the rule gone to deliver the most productive three years of any president in American history.
Election Integrity Front and Center
Leavitt stressed that eliminating the filibuster would finally allow Republicans to:
- Pass nationwide voter ID
- Ban universal mail-in ballots
- Secure election rolls
- Stop Democratic obstruction tactics
- Restore faith in America’s elections
These are issues that older conservative voters consistently rank among their top national concerns, especially after years of chaos, shutdowns, and political gamesmanship.
A Growing Battle Inside the GOP
The push to scrap the filibuster is exposing sharp divisions inside the Republican Party.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) still insists the filibuster protects the Senate from “ill-considered legislation” and reflects the Founders’ vision of a slow, deliberative chamber.
But critics say that argument is outdated — and dangerously naïve.
Johnson and Scott: Act Before Democrats Do
Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) warned last week that Republicans must act before Democrats seize power and eliminate the filibuster themselves.
Johnson said Democrats have already “purged” the last moderates who resisted ending the rule and would abolish it instantly to lock in permanent political control.
Scott pointed to the recent federal shutdown, saying Democrats used the filibuster to block every single GOP attempt to reopen the government, hurting millions of Americans.
“It doesn’t look like we have any choice but to change this,” Scott said.
Do Republicans Have the Votes?
CBS News recently reported that Thune privately admitted Republicans do not yet have the votes to end the filibuster — despite Trump urging them to “do away with it this afternoon.”
But the pressure is clearly rising. And as Trump pushes for aggressive election reforms, the battle over the filibuster is shaping up to be one of the biggest fights of his second term.
Why This Matters To Conservative Voters
For millions of older Americans, the filibuster debate isn’t about procedure — it’s about:
- Securing the vote
- Stopping Democrat overreach
- Protecting America’s future
- Ensuring the Trump agenda is fully implemented
With Trump calling for action and GOP senators openly debating the issue, the future of the filibuster — and the future of America’s election system — now hang in the balance.