Senate Republicans Reverse Course on Iran War Powers Vote After Trump's Outburst

Senate Republicans, facing a furious President Donald Trump, reversed course on a war powers resolution concerning Iran. Hours after Trump confronted them over joining Democrats to approve a measure rebuking his handling of the war, Republican leaders brought a nearly identical resolution to the floor.

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I was going to vote yes, but I had a briefing this evening, and it was complete. I am reassured.

In a 50-47 vote, with one senator abstaining, the measure was defeated. This largely symbolic move served as a clear gesture to mollify the president. Senators Bill Cassidy and Rand Paul, who had voted for the original resolution, shifted their votes. Cassidy stated he was reassured after a White House briefing, while Paul mentioned the president's concerns about leverage in peace negotiations influenced his decision.

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I did listen to the president today, and the president feels like it reduces his leverage to find a deal, and I do think it is important that we have peace negotiations.

Trump celebrated the vote, falsely claiming the Senate had changed its vote on Iran and stating it "puts Iran on notice." However, the procedural maneuver did not undo the previous day's vote, which was the first war powers measure approved by both chambers since the war began and remains adopted. Republican leaders attempted to characterize the vote as a chance to "re-vote," though the initial action could not be erased.

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That train has left the station.

Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat, noted that the vote to defeat the "motion to proceed" does not prevent him from forcing another vote on the same resolution later. The sequence highlighted the lengths Republican leaders would go to contain the clash between the president and skeptical Senate Republicans.

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My bill is in exactly the same position as it was before they did this vote.