Amid a tense government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stands firm on preserving the Senate filibuster, even as President Donald Trump pushes hard for its elimination.

Johnson’s stance, echoed by other Republican leaders like Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., comes as the party grapples with finding 60 Senate votes to pass a continuing resolution and end the funding deadlock, Newsmax reported. 

Last week, Thune publicly dismissed the idea of scrapping the filibuster, calling it a "bad idea," a sentiment that underscores a broader GOP resistance to such a drastic change.

Trump’s Push Meets GOP Resistance

Over the weekend, Trump ramped up his campaign against the filibuster, urging Republicans on Saturday to avoid being "weak and stupid" and to eliminate the rule entirely.

His frustration spilled over into a "60 Minutes" interview aired on Sunday, where he doubled down on the call to ditch the 60-vote threshold that currently blocks a swift resolution to the shutdown.

Trump’s logic is clear: without the filibuster, only 50 votes would be needed, giving Republicans the power to push through a stopgap funding bill without bipartisan support.

Johnson’s Case for Keeping the Rule

Johnson, however, isn’t budging, having discussed the issue directly with Trump over the weekend and shared his perspective on why the filibuster matters.

As he told reporters on Monday, "I understand desperate times call for desperate measures; I also understand that traditionally, we've seen that as an important safeguard" (Mike Johnson).

Let’s unpack that—Johnson gets the urgency of the shutdown mess, but he’s playing the long game, warning that torching the filibuster could backfire spectacularly if Democrats regain control.

Filibuster as a Conservative Shield

Johnson’s argument isn’t just procedural; he sees the filibuster as a bulwark against what he calls the "Democrats' worst impulses," like stacking the Supreme Court or federalizing elections.

It’s a fair point—without this 60-vote hurdle, progressive policies that many conservatives view as overreach could sail through unchecked.

On Friday, Johnson even flipped the script, noting, "If the shoe was on the other foot, I don't think our team would like it" (Mike Johnson).

Balancing Act for GOP Leaders

Thune, for his part, confirmed on Monday that the votes simply aren’t there to dismantle the filibuster, aligning with Johnson’s repeated opposition to such a move.

Both leaders seem to grasp a hard truth: while the filibuster can frustrate Republican goals today, it’s a vital tool to curb a future progressive agenda that could reshape the nation in ways conservatives dread.

So, as the shutdown drags on, the GOP finds itself at a crossroads—stick with principle and keep the safeguard, or bow to pressure and risk a Pandora’s box of unintended consequences.