Speaker Mike Johnson: Trump is 'very passionate' about ending filibusters

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The GOP leader said it’s “not as easy as pressing ‘go’ ‘send’ on a computer.” Johnson, R-La., stood by his previous assessment that the Trump administration was unable to release contingency funds to ensure the food aid kept flowing over the weekend. “Made sense to me,” he said during a morning press conference at the Capitol. Now that courts have ruled that the SNAP funds must be released, he said the Trump administration is waiting for direction on how to do that. House Speaker says Trump is ‘very passionate’ about ending filibusters Rep. Mike Johnson says he spoke with the president multiple times over the weekend as the government shutdown is on track to become the longest ever. Trump has repeatedly called on the Republicans to use their majority hold on the Senate to nuke the filibuster. GOP leaders are not interested in undoing the longstanding rule that requires 60 votes to advance legislation, which serves as a check on majority power. Democrats, now with a 53-47 Senate minority, are using the filibuster to block legislation to reopen government as they hold out for health care funds. Johnson said that the filibuster, while frustrating, serves as an “important safeguard” both parties use to block measures they oppose. “I obviously shared my thoughts with the president on that,” Johnson-R-La., said at his daily press conference.