Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday there isn’t enough support from Republicans to invoke the so-called “nuclear option” and kill the upper chamber’s filibuster rule.

“The votes aren’t there,” Thune (R-SD) told reporters on Monday, according to Politico .

When asked if he had spoken with President Trump about the issue, Thune reportedly laughed and responded : “Oh, yeah.”

Trump had urged Senate Republicans last week to change a procedural rule that requires legislation to receive at least 60 yes votes in order to move forward.

The president argued that without needing to hit the 60-vote threshold, Republicans could end the “country destroying” government shutdown – now in its 34th day – with a simple majority vote.

“It is now time for the Republicans to play their ‘T

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