The US Senate approved a war powers resolution on Tuesday aimed at preventing Donald Trump from continuing hostilities against Iran, delivering a symbolic rebuke to the president over a conflict that has become deeply unpopular with the American public. The resolution passed by a 50-48 vote, with four Republicans breaking party lines to support it.
Senate vote details
The four Republicans who voted in favor were Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, and Rand Paul of Kentucky. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the sole Democrat to vote against the resolution. The measure had previously passed the House of Representatives earlier this month.
The resolution would require the president to seek congressional authorization before using military force against Iran. It comes after Trump sent JD Vance to Switzerland to negotiate a settlement to the conflict that began in February alongside Israel.
Constitutional questions and political impact
The resolution does not require the president's signature, and Trump and his Republican allies have questioned the constitutionality of the 1973 War Powers Act under which it was passed. Nonetheless, its passage underscores growing discontent among Republicans over a conflict that has become unpopular with voters ahead of the November midterm elections, where Republicans will defend their congressional majority.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday found that only 23% of Americans believed the United States was stronger because of the war with Iran, while nearly two-thirds thought any truce with Tehran was unlikely to last.
Absences enabled passage
The resolution's passage was enabled by the absences of two Republicans: Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was hospitalized last week. Neither had supported previous war powers resolutions, which Democrats have regularly forced votes on since the war with Iran began.
"Trump's historic blunder in Iran will go down in the history books as one of the worst foreign policy forays America has ever made, or any country has ever made," said Democratic minority leader Chuck Schumer ahead of the vote. "The American people have seen skyrocketing gas prices, soaring costs, and, tragically, the loss of 13 service members, and the wounding of hundreds more, and meanwhile, Iran took Trump to the cleaners."
House sponsor vows legal action
Greg Meeks, the top Democrat on the House foreign affairs committee who sponsored the resolution, said in a statement he would "explore all legal avenues to ensure the executive complies with the will of Congress." He added: "Congress never authorized this failed war, and the president certainly has no authority to continue it indefinitely without our consent as the constitution demands."
