WASHINGTON —

Congressional Republicans are rejecting President Donald Trump’s public push to use the “nuclear option” to eliminate the Senate filibuster, a move Trump says would allow Republicans to end the shutdown without Democratic votes.

“THE CHOICE IS CLEAR — INITIATE THE ‘NUCLEAR OPTION,’ GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER,” President Trump said in a social media post.

The filibuster is a Senate rule requiring 60 votes, not a simple majority, to advance most legislation, incentivizing bipartisan consensus over majority rule. Republicans currently have a 53-47 majority in the upper chamber. Democrats have voted to keep the government closed while they demand an extension of health care subsidies.

Despite Trump's call, only the Senate can change its own rules .

Republican Sen. John Cur

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