Senate rejects measure to restrict Trump’s Iran war powers as key Republicans shift
Late Wednesday, the Senate rejected a measure aimed at restricting President Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran; It was a victory for the president and Senate GOP leadership, who have sought to quell congressional discontent with the Trump administration’s Iran strategy.
The procedural motion failed by a vote of 50 to 47; Two Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski — voted in favor of Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine, who sided with most Democrats, to advance the resolution. Republican Senator Rand Paul voted present and Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted no.
Just a day ago, four Republicans voted yes It’s on a separate House-passed resolution restricting Mr. Trump’s war powers, narrowly allowing it to pass. The same four GOP lawmakers voted to move forward The passage of the Kaine resolution in an earlier procedural vote last month marked the first time a resolution on Iran’s war powers had moved to the Senate after seven failed attempts.
Kaine’s decision would direct Mr. Trump to “remove the Armed Forces of the United States from hostilities within or against Iran” unless authorized by Congress. Unlike the resolution, which will not go to the president’s desk on Tuesday, it would have required the president’s signature if it had passed the House and Senate.
The practical impact of the Kaine decision was unclear because even if it passed, the president would likely veto the measure. The Trump administration has also argued that the United States is no longer at odds with Iran since the two sides entered into a ceasefire. And the administration has said it believes the 1973 War Powers Resolution (the law that established a process for Congress to reverse the president’s use of military force) was itself unconstitutional.
Yet Mr. Trump has publicly and privately cited rebukes from Congress for votes on war powers. weakened It continues its efforts to negotiate with Iran.
Those frustrations flared further early Wednesday when Mr. Trump voiced his displeasure during a testy lunch meeting with Senate Republicans, CBS News previously reported. At one point, the president sternly told Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who had voted in favor of Tuesday’s war powers resolution, to sit down. Cassidy told reporters after the meeting: “[Mr. Trump] he raised his voice” and “I lost my temper.”
But signs emerged later in the day that some Senate Republicans who had previously voted to restrict Mr. Trump’s war powers were reconsidering.
Cassidy was briefed on Iran at the White House by Vice President J.D. Vance and special envoy Senator Steve Witkoff. Confirmed in Xwrites the “address” of the conversation[ed] Many of my concerns.” Cassidy voted against advancing the resolution Wednesday night.
And although Paul has voted in favor of several recent Iran war powers resolutions, he voted presently on Wednesday. HE said in x Its purpose was “to give the President more space and power to negotiate a lasting peace.”
“My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed, and I have voted that way repeatedly,” he said. “But since hostilities appear to be over and the President has asked me to consider his negotiating position, I will do so.”
Senate Majority Rep. John Barrasso, a Republican from Wyoming, helped “seal the deal” in meetings with some key GOP members, a person familiar with the matter told CBS News.
The back-and-forth comes after Mr. Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to extend the two countries’ cease-fire for 60 days and begin talks on Iran’s nuclear program, aimed at ending the war that most Americans say polls show. don’t believe It was worth the cost.
Mr. Trump thanked his allies in the Senate for Wednesday’s vote. Real Social “He warns Iran.”
