WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald

Trump on Wednesday again called for Republican senators to

terminate the filibuster rule in a bid to end what is now the

longest government shutdown in history, a move that would

shatter long-standing Senate norms and make it easier for the

majority to jam through legislation.

"We have to get the country open. And the way we're going

to do it this afternoon is to terminate the filibuster," Trump

told the senators, who were gathered at the White House for a

breakfast.

"It's possible you're not going to do that, and I'm going

to go by your wishes. You're very smart people, you're good

friends, but I think it's a tremendous mistake," Trump said. "It

would be a tragic mistake. Actually, it's time."

The filibuster is a Senate rule for agreement by 60 of its

100 members to pass most legislation. Republicans hold a 53-47

majority in the Senate and a 219-213 majority in the House of

Representatives.

While Trump has called for the filibuster's elimination

before, Republican lawmakers have been reticent, in part because

Democrats would stop abiding by the rule upon obtaining a

majority.

During the Wednesday gathering, Trump played down concerns

that the Democrats could take power. He argued that if the

Senate eliminates the filibuster, Republicans will be able to

maintain power by jamming through what he sees as popular

legislation.

Trump told senators that the ongoing government shutdown

was impacting the stock market, as well as airlines and SNAP

food benefits for low-income Americans.

He blamed Republican losses in elections around the country

on Tuesday in part on the government shutdown, which he said had

not hurt Democrats in the way he thought it should.

The shutdown is now in its 36th day, eclipsing the previous

record of 35 days, set during Trump's first 2017-2021 term.

(Reporting by Jeff Mason and Gram Slattery; Editing by Colleen

Jenkins and Chizu Nomiyama )