GOP Rejects War Powers
Senate Republicans reject war powers resolution following Trump's berating at Capitol meeting
Senate Republicans on Tuesday night blocked a legally binding war powers resolution that would have forced President Trump to end U.S. military operations against Iran. The motion failed 47–50–1 — a dramatic reversal from just 24 hours earlier, when the Senate had rebuked Trump in a 50–48 vote AP News.
The turnaround came after Trump personally berated GOP senators at a Capitol lunch meeting, calling Sen. Bill Cassidy a "lunatic." By that evening, Cassidy had flipped — after a private White House briefing with Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff AP News.
How Trump Flipped the Senate in One Day
On June 23, four Republicans — Sens. Collins, Murkowski, Paul, and Cassidy — crossed the aisle to pass a concurrent resolution directing Trump to pull U.S. forces. That symbolic vote passed 50–48 CBS News. But a concurrent resolution carries no legal weight. It cannot be sent to the president for a signature.
Democrats then pushed a joint resolution — S.J.Res. 185 — which would have been binding law. Trump moved fast. He posted on Truth Social calling the defectors "losers" and said their vote gave Iran "aid and comfort." Then he showed up to lunch at the Capitol and made his case face to face. By 10:30 PM, the joint resolution was dead AP News.
Cassidy Flips After White House Briefing, Paul Votes Present
Sen. Cassidy thanked Vance and Witkoff after his White House visit. "I appreciate the quick invitation to address my concerns," he said AP News. He did not explain what changed his mind, only that he felt "better informed."
Sen. Rand Paul took a different path. He voted "present" rather than yes or no. Paul said he wanted to give Trump "more space and leverage to negotiate" — a tacit admission that he still had doubts, but wouldn't stand in the way AP News.
The War That Sparked the Fight: Operation Epic Fury
Trump launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran on February 28, 2026, without asking Congress first. Iran responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz on March 4. That pushed Brent crude oil to $120 per barrel and spiked the national average gas price to $4.56 per gallon — hitting $7 in some areas AP News.
The conflict has killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 3,300 Iranians. The total cost to U.S. consumers and taxpayers is estimated at $132 billion, according to Moody's Analytics. The war is now costing roughly $11.3 billion per week AP News. The administration is seeking $88 billion in supplemental war funding from Congress.
Senate Leaves for Recess, Ending Immediate Legislative Push
With the joint resolution dead, the Senate left for a two-week recess. That means no further votes to check the president's war authority in the near future AP News. Sen. Tim Kaine, who led the effort, warned that "a decision of this magnitude should never be in the hands of a single person."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the conflict "one of the worst foreign policy forays America has ever made" AP News. The White House, for its part, says the war is technically over — pointing to a May 1 ceasefire declaration. But the U.S. naval blockade of Iran remains in place.
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