US Senate votes to halt Iran war, rebuking Trump
The US Senate backed legislation directing President Donald Trump to halt US military action against Iran; It was the Republican president’s latest rebuke from an increasingly restive Congress.
The Senate voted 50-48 on the war powers resolution that passed the House earlier this month; This reflects growing concern even among some of Trump’s Republicans about the unpopular conflict that began on Feb. 28.
This was the first time since the enactment of the War Powers Resolution in 1973 that both houses of Congress passed a resolution directing a president to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities. Although likely to remain largely symbolic, the vote was a setback for Trump, who until recently was almost unanimously supported by Republican members of Congress.
It also comes as the administration is expected to ask Congress to authorize tens of billions of dollars for the war effort.
Trump’s Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, but several have parted ways with the president on a range of issues ahead of midterm elections in November that will determine whether the party retains control of Congress.
The votes in the Senate were largely along party lines; four Republicans joined all but one Democrat in favor. Two Republican senators did not vote.
The Trump administration is trying to negotiate a peace deal with Iran. Support for the resolution in Congress is likely to put pressure on the president not to resume hostilities, something he has suggested he might do if negotiations falter.
A White House official on Tuesday said the Senate vote was of no consequence because the resolutions do not go to the president and do not have the force of law, and that the measure was passed only because two Republicans were absent.
The official also said the order directs Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities, which the White House said ended with a ceasefire on April 7. Experts say the constitutionality of the War Powers Act will likely be resolved in the courts.
New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, who sponsored the resolution in the House of Representatives, said he viewed the resolution as binding and would pursue all legal remedies to ensure the administration complies.
Democrats also noted that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the right to lead the country into war.
“Congress must take on this responsibility,” Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said in a speech urging support for the measure.
The resolution also passed the House of Representatives with weak support from Republicans. The score was 215-208, with four Republicans and every Democrat voting in favor.
Democratic politicians have promised additional votes on war powers measures, saying they want to force Republicans to go on the record on the war.
Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota said he expects Congress to review and vote on the final Iran peace deal.
