Government shutdown updates: Senate vote marks step towards ending federal shutdown

President Donald Trump bluntly told Senate Republicans "it's time" to end the filibuster rule not only to end the shutdown but to also pass a slate of his legislative priorities.

"It's time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that's terminate the filibuster. It's the only way you can do it. And if you don't terminate the filibuster, you'll be in bad shape. We won't pass any legislation. There'll be no legislation passed for three and a quarter, three and a quarter years left," Trump said.

Trump said he wants to end the filibuster to pass bills on voter ID, mail-in voting and "all the things we want to pass."

Looking on as Trump spoke was Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who is opposed to changing the traditional rule.

Hosting Senate Republicans at the White House, President Donald Trump said he wanted to talk with them about Tuesday's election results. Democrats racked up major wins in New York City, New Jersey and Virginia, in an election considered to be a referendum on him and Republicans.

"I thought we would have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented and what we should do about it," Trump said. "And also about the shutdown and how that relates to last night. I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative, for the Republicans."

President Donald Trump summoned Senate Republicans for breakfast at the White House on Wednesday morning after reiterating his call for them to eliminate the Senate filibuster to end the shutdown.

"We are in the midst of a disastrous Democrat-created government shutdown. And it is Democrat-created but I don't think they're getting, really, the blame that they should," Trump said. "It's now officially the longest shutdown in American history."

Trump said he didn't believe the stalemate would end soon as he continued to bash Democrats.

"I think they're kamikaze pilots. just got back from Japan, I talked about the kamikaze pilots. I think these guys are kamikazes, they'll take down the country if they have to. I don't think so," he said.

The government shutdown has now lasted 36 days and counting, making it the longest shutdown in history.

President Donald Trump has been in the White House during the two longest shutdowns in history. The previous 35-day record was set during his first term, with Democrats refusing to fund his southern border wall. That impasse ended with Trump and Republicans compromising to reopen the government.