Trump: Republicans ‘look like fools’ if they don’t kill Senate filibuster

Responding to Senate Republicans’ healthcare collapse this week, President Trump said Saturday that Republicans “look like fools” and the Democrats are “laughing” at them if they don’t change the legislative process.

He urged Senate Republicans to abolish the legislative filibuster in a series of early-morning tweets,  claiming “200 bills” sit in the Senate waiting for action. 

Trump specifically called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), pushing the GOP leader to end the filibuster and move toward passing all legislation with a 51-vote majority.

{mosads}

“Republican Senate must get rid of 60 vote NOW! It is killing the R Party, allows 8 Dems to control country. 200 Bills sit in Senate. A JOKE!” Trump tweeted. “The very outdated filibuster rule must go. Budget reconciliation is killing R’s in Senate. Mitch M, go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT’S TIME!”

“Republicans in the Senate will NEVER win if they don’t go to a 51 vote majority NOW. They look like fools and are just wasting time,” he continued. “8 Dems totally control the U.S. Senate. Many great Republican bills will never pass, like Kate’s Law and complete Healthcare. Get smart!” 

Republican Senate must get rid of 60 vote NOW! It is killing the R Party, allows 8 Dems to control country. 200 Bills sit in Senate. A JOKE!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017

The very outdated filibuster rule must go. Budget reconciliation is killing R’s in Senate. Mitch M, go to 51 Votes NOW and WIN. IT’S TIME!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017

Republicans in the Senate will NEVER win if they don’t go to a 51 vote majority NOW. They look like fools and are just wasting time……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017

….8 Dems totally control the U.S. Senate. Many great Republican bills will never pass, like Kate’s Law and complete Healthcare. Get smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017

If the Senate Democrats ever got the chance, they would switch to a 51 majority vote in first minute. They are laughing at R’s. MAKE CHANGE!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2017

Trump’s tweets come after Senate Republicans were unable to pass their ObamaCare repeal bill in the early hours of Friday morning after three Republicans – Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and John McCain (Ariz.) – all voted against the bill.

After the vote, Trump reacted on Twitter, saying those three Republicans plus the 48 Democrats who voted against the measure “let the American people down.”

Trump also called for an end to the legislative filibuster on Friday, saying “great future legislation” depended on Republicans killing the filibuster and moving to a 51-vote majority.

On Saturday, he named “complete healthcare” and Kate’s Law as two examples. The Senate this week was voting on a “skinny” healthcare bill that would have required negotiation in order to completely address healthcare reform. Kate’s Law is an immigration-related bill also known as the Establishing Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act of 2015.