Senate Republicans back Trump on Iran war powers resolution

The Senate narrowly rejected a resolution that would have directed President Trump to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities in Iran, opting not to rebuke the administration for a second time over the conflict. The vote, which concluded late Wednesday night with a 47-50-1 tally, was influenced by arguments that such a move would harm ongoing negotiations to end the war.

Senator Rand Paul, who has previously supported similar resolutions, announced he would vote 'present' to give the President more leverage in negotiations, stating that hostilities appeared to be over. Earlier in the day, Senate Republicans met with President Trump, who defended the military conflict. This meeting reportedly led to tension, with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana engaging in a heated exchange with Trump over the administration's transparency with Congress regarding the campaign in Iran.

Following the exchange, the White House invited Cassidy for a briefing with Vice President J.D. Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the war's status. After the briefing, which Cassidy described as 'thorough,' he voted against the resolution. The measure had advanced with Cassidy's assistance in May, reflecting a shift in congressional sentiment as Republicans consider the domestic consequences of the conflict. The House of Representatives had also passed a similar resolution earlier in the week.