Senate Republicans reject Iran war powers resolution in late-night vote to appease President Donald Trump
Senate Republicans rejected a symbolic war powers resolution on Iran in a late-night session on Wednesday, a swift about-face intended to mollify President Donald Trump just one day after a similar measure had cleared the chamber. The 47-50-1 vote took place shortly before midnight, after which the Senate adjourned for a two-week recess.
The sudden legislative reversal followed a contentious closed-door GOP luncheon earlier in the day, during which Trump aggressively criticized Republican lawmakers for allowing Tuesday's rebuke of his foreign policy. The face-to-face confrontation escalated a widening rift between the White House and congressional Republicans, which has increasingly stalled Senate business and distracted from GOP legislative messaging on economic affordability ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The exchange was particularly hostile between Trump and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who had previously joined Democrats to support the war restrictions. Cassidy challenged the administration's long-term strategy, pointing out that an intervention originally framed as a four-week operation had stretched into four months without meeting its core objectives. Trump repeatedly ordered Cassidy to sit down and later disparaged him during the meeting. However, hours after the clash, Cassidy attended an urgent White House briefing conducted by Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff. Satisfied with the briefing, Cassidy returned to the Capitol to reverse his position and vote against Wednesday's resolution. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, another regular opponent of military engagement, shifted his vote to "present," stating it would afford the administration greater leverage to broker a peace agreement.
Following the late-night vote, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and a small group of colleagues phoned Trump to report the outcome, later indicating the president was pleased with the result. Trump subsequently expressed his approval on social media, emphasizing that the vote sent a firm message to Iran.
The political maneuvering underscores the persistent pressure on congressional Republicans to align with the executive branch, despite weeks of mounting legislative friction. Prior to the luncheon, Trump abruptly canceled a scheduled signing ceremony for a heavily bipartisan housing affordability bill, declaring he would withhold his signature until Congress passes the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship for voters. GOP lawmakers expressed deep frustration over the move, privately noting that the voting bill lacks the necessary support to overcome a Senate filibuster and that delaying the housing legislation risks signaling indifference toward voters' economic concerns.
Tensions remain high as Trump has actively campaigned against sitting Senate Republicans, including Cassidy and Texas Senator John Cornyn, both of whom lost their primary races following presidential endorsements of their challengers. With legislative priorities gridlocked over the filibuster and structural disagreements on spending, party leaders warned that internal division could jeopardize their prospects in the looming midterm elections.
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