The Senate reversed course late Wednesday night from a day earlier on a resolution aimed at limiting President Donald Trump’s war powers in the Iran conflict, giving the president a legislative victory over congressional dissenters on how his administration is handling the military conflict with Iran.
The measure was initially introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and would have required the president to remove the U.S. military from engaging in combat “within or against Iran” unless a congressional vote granted him full authorization. On Tuesday, four Republican senators broke with the party to advance a resolution passed in the House of Representatives to limit the president’s war powers. Two Republicans, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) switched their votes on Wednesday night, and Kaine’s resolution failed to advance in a 47-50-1 vote. Paul voted present, and Cassidy voted against advancing it on Wednesday.
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The vote came after Trump expressed anger with Tuesday’s adoption of the resolution that would have limited his war powers. Calling it a “poorly timed and meaningless” vote, Trump said it “provided aid and comfort” to the enemy, and hampered him in negotiations with the Iranians.
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The president reportedly met with Republicans at the White House on Wednesday in what many sources claimed was a contentious meeting. However, Trump was able to convince the two Republicans to switch their votes to give him a much-needed legislative victory. Trump posted about the Senate reversal on his Truth Social account on Wednesday night, thanking Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH) for their efforts in getting the resolution rejected.
Cassidy and Trump reportedly had a heated disagreement about the Iran war and the War Powers Act vote at the White House. A shouting match between Cassidy and Trump followed over the senator’s frustration about the president’s handling of the war.
“He asked, ‘Why would anybody vote for the War Powers Act?’” Cassidy said, recalling the conversation with Trump. “As he continued, I said, ‘Is that a rhetorical question, or would you like to really know?’ He said, ‘I’d like to know.’”
“I stood and said, ‘You have not told the American people what’s going on. It was supposed to last four weeks. It’s lasted four months,’” Cassidy added. “‘Our original objectives have not been achieved, and I want to know what’s going on.’”
After a few outbursts by Trump and Cassidy, each cooled down, and Cassidy said he explained his perspective, Fox News reported.
“I guess my point is, though, that the American people need to know more than we are being told,” Cassidy said. “The Senate needs to know, and it does not appear, although I don’t know for sure, that the course of this is going the way that we were told.”
The president posted about the GOP senators reversing their positions and rejecting the War Powers Act vote.
“Wow!” Trump said in his post. “The Senate just changed its vote on Iran from 50-48 against, to 50-47 for. [sic] Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. Thank you to Leader John Thune, Lindsey Graham, Bernie Moreno, and all. This vote puts Iran on notice!”
Paul explained the reason for his switch of votes in a social media post on Wednesday night as a courtesy to Trump regarding “his negotiating position.” He asserted that his views have not changed during the process.
“My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed and I have voted that way several times,” Paul said on X. “But since hostilities seem to be over and the President asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so.”
“My vote of present is a way to give the President more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace,” said Paul.
