Senate rejects measure limiting Trump’s Iran war powers

The Senate late Wednesday rejected a measure that would have restricted President Donald Trump’s authority to wage war against Iran, after two Republican senators who had previously supported advancing the effort changed course following a tense meeting with the president.

The procedural motion on a war powers resolution from Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., failed 50-47, with Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., voting present. Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined most Democrats in voting to advance the measure, while Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., voted no.

Kaine’s resolution would have directed Trump “to remove the United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against Iran” unless Congress authorized the action through a declaration of war or a specific authorization for the use of military force. If it had passed both chambers, the measure would have required the president’s signature. Trump would likely have vetoed it.

The vote marked a reversal from earlier support by Paul and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., who had voted to advance the same resolution in March. On Tuesday, four Republicans had also voted for a separate House-passed war powers resolution, allowing that measure to pass narrowly. That resolution will not go to the president’s desk.

The shift came hours after a contentious closed-door lunch between Trump and Senate Republicans. The president had been expected to discuss a major bipartisan housing bill and the SAVE America Act, but NBC News reported that several senators said he spent more time on the election bill and the Iran war after canceling plans to sign the housing measure.

Cassidy told reporters after the meeting that he stood up and “lost my temper” over what he described as a lack of information from the administration on Iran. He said Trump “raised his voice” as well. CBS News reported that Trump at one point sternly told Cassidy, who had voted for Tuesday’s war powers resolution, to sit down.

Cassidy said he told Trump the war “was supposed to last four weeks. It’s lasted four months. Our original objectives have not been achieved, and I want to know what’s going on.” He also said he was “voting for War Powers until I get a briefing.”

Later Wednesday, Cassidy went to the White House for a private briefing from Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff. He then returned to Capitol Hill and voted against advancing the resolution.

“I want to thank Vice President Vance and Special Envoy Witkoff for the thorough briefing this afternoon on Iran,” Cassidy wrote on X. “I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns.”

Paul, who voted present, said on X that he wanted to “give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace.” He added, “My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed and I have voted that way several times. But since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so.”

The Trump administration has argued that the United States is no longer engaged in hostilities with Iran because the two sides have entered a ceasefire. It has also said it believes the 1973 War Powers Resolution is unconstitutional. CBS News reported that Trump signed a memorandum of understanding with Iran to extend the ceasefire for 60 days and begin talks on Iran’s nuclear program.

Trump thanked Senate allies on Truth Social, saying the vote “puts Iran on notice.” Kaine said in a statement that Trump had “tried to browbeat Republican senators for upholding their oaths of office” and said the vote “does not undo the expressed position of Congress that further war against Iran is illegal unless Congress votes for it.”

The Senate is now set to leave Washington for a two-week recess.