Senate War Powers Vote
Senate Republicans schedule new war powers vote following Trump's strong criticism at Capitol
Senate Republicans held a late-night do-over vote just after midnight on Thursday to appease President Trump after he berated them at a heated Capitol meeting. The new vote, on a war powers measure by Sen. Tim Kaine, failed 50-47 — a reversal from the day before, when a similar measure passed 50-48 AP News.
The turnaround came after Trump spent Wednesday browbeating Republican senators who had defied him. He called Sen. Bill Cassidy a "lunatic" in a face-to-face shouting match, according to Newsday. Cassidy, who had voted to curb Trump's war powers on Tuesday, flipped to "No" after a White House briefing with VP JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump Berates Senators After Historic Rebuke on Iran War
On Tuesday, June 23, four Republicans — Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski, and Rand Paul — broke with Trump and joined Democrats to pass a war powers resolution 50-48, according to Scripps News. It was the first time both chambers unified to rebuke Trump over the Iran conflict, which began with "Operation Epic Fury" in February. Trump fired back on Truth Social, calling the four senators "losers" and accusing them of giving "aid and comfort to the Enemy."
The next morning, Trump punished Congress by canceling the signing ceremony for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a popular bill that would have addressed housing costs, according to AP News. Then he summoned senators to the Capitol for a lunchtime meeting that quickly turned into a confrontation.
Late-Night Vote Fails After Cassidy and Paul Flip
After the Capitol blowup, VP Vance and envoy Witkoff rushed Sen. Cassidy to the White House for an emergency briefing, according to Time. Cassidy said he needed more information before Thursday's vote. He changed his position, citing new details provided by the administration. Sen. Rand Paul voted "Present" instead of "Yes," saying he wanted to give Trump "more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace."
The final tally was 50-47-1, with only Collins and Murkowski holding firm on both votes, according to The Washington Post. Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the sole Democrat to side with Republicans against the measure. The two-day drama marked the 10th Senate attempt to invoke the 1973 War Powers Act during the Iran conflict.
The Iran War Deal Driving Congressional Anger
The fight over war powers centers on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Trump on June 17. The deal ended active combat but commits the U.S. to help fund a $300 billion reconstruction fund for Iran, according to CBS News. It also lets Tehran charge tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign policy expert Richard Haass called it a "massive victory for Iran."
The Pentagon is now seeking $80 billion in emergency funding to restock weapons depleted during the war, according to PBS News. Public support for the conflict has cratered. Just 23% of Americans say the U.S. is "stronger" because of the war, per a Reuters/Ipsos poll. A separate NYT-Siena poll found 64% of voters believe the decision to go to war was "wrong."
GOP Unity at Risk Heading Into 2026 Midterms
The feud between Trump and Senate Republicans is deepening at a dangerous moment. Midterm elections are months away, and high gas prices tied to the Iran war are a growing political liability, according to AP News. Sen. Chuck Schumer called the conflict a "historic blunder" and "one of the worst foreign policy forays America has ever made."
Collins and Murkowski framed their votes as a defense of the Constitution. No president, they argued, should wage an extended war without Congress. But loyalists like Sen. Lindsey Graham warned that limiting Trump during active peace talks "provides aid and comfort" to the enemy. The standoff has also frozen progress on domestic issues, including the housing bill Trump shelved as leverage, according to Time.
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