A series of tweets fired off by then-citizen Donald Trump have once again proven to be prophetic.
Trump predicted, in 2013, that Nevada Senator Harry Reid’s filibuster reform would come back to bite Democrats when they no longer had the majority in the Senate.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Senate filibuster rule. Harry Reid & Obama killed it yesterday. Rule was in effect for over 200 years.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2013
Trump suggested that Republicans should make use of the fact that the Democrats had used their power to enact a rule that could certainly backfire under the right circumstances.
Since the Democrats decided to kill the filibuster, they now own it.Republicans should keep the new rule when they’re in the majority.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2013
He even took a swing at former President Obama, pointing out the fact that, Obama had opposed filibuster reform as a junior senator from Illinois.
Hypocrite. Watch Senator Obama defend “democratic debate’ of Senate filibuster rules in 2005 http://t.co/Z8Sh1Yopn1
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 22, 2013
All that changed by the time Obama took office and his party held the majority in the Senate, but the former president tweeted his approval of the change in 2013.
“This gridlock has not served the cause of justice … It’s undermined it.” —President Obama, supporting filibuster reform in the Senate
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 22, 2013
Then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid underwent a similar change of heart. In 2005, he was adamantly opposed to filibuster reform — even going so far as to call it “un-American.”
Harry Reid Called 2005 GOP Filibuster Reform Attempts “Un-American” And “Illegal” http://t.co/ccgtew6hTw
— andrew kaczynski (@KFILE) November 21, 2013
Just eight years later, he led his Senate down that very path himself.
Thanks to all of you who encouraged me to consider filibuster reform. It had to be done.
— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) November 21, 2013
He appeared unconcerned about the possibility that Republicans could eventually use the rule to their own advantage.
MUST WATCH: From a simpler time 5 years ago…
“Aren’t you worried Republicans will get rid of the filibuster on the Supreme Court?” – Reporter
“Let them do it! Why in the world would we care?!? If they want simple majority, fine!” – Harry Reid pic.twitter.com/RfPqmjeiiw— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 28, 2018
And President Trump wasn’t the only one to predict that Democrats might regret the move. Then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell issued his warning from the Senate floor in 2013.
MUST WATCH: In 2013 Mitch McConnell warned Senate Democrats they’ll regret filibuster reform “a lot sooner than you think.”
Here we are 5 years later… pic.twitter.com/qu6u75piMa
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) June 28, 2018
The filibuster reform that Democrats championed in 2013 may be what allows President Donald Trump to replace retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy with a more conservative justice — and Democrats would be powerless to stop him if he gets the full support of Senate Republicans.