Key facts
- Senate Republicans rejected a war powers resolution concerning Iran with a 47-50-1 vote.
- President Donald Trump exerted pressure on Republican senators to oppose the measure.
- Senator Bill Cassidy switched his vote after receiving a White House briefing.
- The resolution, passed by both the House and Senate, directs the president to halt U.S. military activity against Iran.
- The War Powers Act of 1973 requires presidential reporting to Congress on hostilities and limits military action without congressional approval.
Senate Republicans, under pressure from President Donald Trump, voted to reject a war powers resolution concerning Iran. The measure, which directed President Trump to halt U.S. military activity against Iran, failed with a 47-50-1 vote. Trump had personally berated GOP senators earlier in the day for allowing a vote to block his actions in Iran.
Senator Bill Cassidy, who had previously voted with Democrats on a similar measure, switched his vote after receiving a briefing on Iran from Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff. Senator Rand Paul voted present, citing a desire to provide Trump with more leverage for negotiations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune reported that Trump was pleased with the outcome and later thanked Thune on social media.
The War Powers Act of 1973 requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of hostilities and mandates that military action begun without congressional approval must be terminated within 60 days, unless there is an emergency. Legal experts have questioned the enforceability of concurrent resolutions, which do not require presidential signature, and whether Trump's argument that hostilities had been terminated by a ceasefire would survive judicial scrutiny.
Sponsors of the resolution argue that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the sole power to authorize military force. Opponents, however, view the resolutions as political posturing that could embolden U.S. enemies and infringe upon the president's role as commander in chief. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that only one in four Americans believe the war is worth its costs, and a majority are concerned that a truce with Tehran is unlikely to last, with the war weighing on Trump's popularity.