Hassett backs Trump’s call to end filibuster amid government shutdown

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett backed President Donald Trump in an interview on “The Story” on Friday, calling on Republicans to end the filibuster to end the government shutdown.

“Get rid of the filibuster and get rid of it NOW!” The president wrote on Truth Social that Republicans should use what he called the “nuclear option.”

The “nuclear option” would eliminate the 60-vote threshold, leaving Republicans needing only a simple majority to pass a federal funding bill.

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Hassett acknowledged that filibuster should be “on the table” because Democrats “could try to keep the government shut down forever as we know it.”

Both House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) have expressed hesitancy about getting rid of the filibuster and its 60-vote threshold.

Hassett also theorized that Democratic politicians were trying to “stop the president’s momentum” after a “historic” trip to Asia, praising the soybean deal reached with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“We’re not going to let them keep the government shut down indefinitely,” Hassett said. “We will not let them starve the American people.”

Hassett emphasized the importance of ending the shutdown before Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which provide assistance to nearly 42 million Americans in need, expire on November 1. The end of SNAP would be the first time the program has been shut down due to a government shutdown in 60 years.

Touching on ways to finance the program, Hassett said, “We are about to use the emergency funds of the Ministry of Agriculture.”

This follows court orders from two federal judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to tap emergency funds before the benefits expire on Nov. 1.

Hassett criticized what he called a “liberal judge’s decision,” saying that tapping into emergency funds would make the government vulnerable in the event of a future hurricane or food emergency.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., criticized Trump for “using hunger as a political weapon,” referring to SNAP.

“What really surprises me is the level of cruelty that is the hallmark of the Republican leadership right now,” Booker said.

Hassett reacted by saying Democrats should fulfill their “constitutional duty” and reopen the government.

“Democrats don’t really have a plan,” he said. “We don’t really understand what they’re doing anymore.”

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