Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) guaranteed reporters on Tuesday that Trump's Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch would be confirmed next Friday. This has fueled speculation on whether McConnell is prepared to use the nuclear option.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) announced last week that Senate Democrats plan on filibustering Gorsuch's confirmation. The nuclear option would abolish the filibuster and allow the Senate to move Gorsuch's nomination forward with a simple majority.
Republicans need eight Democratic senators to join them in order to break the filibuster. Only a few Democrats have said they won't join their colleagues in filibustering Gorsuch. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) said he is "not inclined to filibuster" Gorsuch.
A growing number of Republicans have said they will do whatever it takes to confirm Gorsuch, even several senators who wish to keep the filibuster intact as a Senate institution.
"We are going to confirm Judge Gorsuch. By whatever means necessary," Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah) told the Weekly Standard.
"Whatever it takes to get him on the court, I will do," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) said. Graham expressed his frustrations with his Democratic colleagues over their obstruction, especially after numerous Republican Senators including Graham voted for two of Obama's Supreme Court nominees.
Sen. Susan Collins (R., Maine), who is widely viewed as the most liberal Republican senator, has expressed support for Gorsuch and warned her colleagues to not filibuster Gorsuch. She has yet to publicly state whether if she supports the nuclear option if Democrats filibuster.
"The Senate should resist the temptation to filibuster a Supreme Court nominee who is unquestionably qualified," said Collins.
chumer called Republican's threat to use the nuclear option "utter bunk."
Schumer calls nuclear option threat 'utter bunk' pic.twitter.com/LcSKWi4P1F
— Federal Network (@FedNet) March 28, 2017
The groundwork for the GOP to use the nuclear option was laid down by former Sen. Harry Reid (D., Nev.) when he used the nuclear option for Obama's executive and judicial branch nominees. At the time, Democrats and liberal pundits cheered the decision.