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The Senate rejected a war powers resolution on Wednesday that would’ve blocked further military action in Iran without congressional approval. The vote was 47-53 and fell largely along party lines, though Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania opposed the measure. In a high-stakes midterm election year, the vote on Wednesday was the first test of where senators stand on President Donald Trump’s military operation in Iran since it was launched over the weekend. “Today, every senator, every single one, will pick a side,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ahead of the vote. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted of forever wars in the Middle East, or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?” The measure sought to block further strikes in Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. It would not have prevented the U.S. from defending itself from an imminent attack. Still, Republicans raised concerns that the resolution would tie the president’s hands and send the wrong message during a rapidly evolving conflict. “It is wrong to vote to signal weakness to our enemies. It is wrong to vote to undermine our troops in combat. It is wrong to vote to undercut peace through strength,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming). The House is expected to take a similar vote as early as Thursday. The effort faces an uphill battle in a Republican-led Congress and would almost certainly be vetoed by the president if it were to reach his desk. Democrats have argued that the president’s goals in Iran are unclear and his unilateral strikes are unconstitutional. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, though presidents from both parties have bypassed lawmakers in the past. Republicans have largely backed the president’s strikes on Iran, arguing that the operation doesn’t require a formal declaration of war because it was “defensive in nature” and expected to be short in duration. The Trump administration has said the operation could last for several weeks but has not set a firm end date. Their stated objectives include destroying Iran’s navy and missile program, and preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The president has expressed support for regime change in the past, but the White House says that is not his current focus, even after Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday.
The Senate rejected a war powers resolution on Wednesday that would’ve blocked further military action in Iran without congressional approval.
The vote was 47-53 and fell largely along party lines, though Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky voted in favor and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania opposed the measure.
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In a high-stakes midterm election year, the vote on Wednesday was the first test of where senators stand on President Donald Trump’s military operation in Iran since it was launched over the weekend.
“Today, every senator, every single one, will pick a side,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ahead of the vote. “Do you stand with the American people who are exhausted of forever wars in the Middle East, or stand with Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth as they bumble us headfirst into another war?”
The measure sought to block further strikes in Iran that have not been authorized by Congress. It would not have prevented the U.S. from defending itself from an imminent attack.
Still, Republicans raised concerns that the resolution would tie the president’s hands and send the wrong message during a rapidly evolving conflict.
“It is wrong to vote to signal weakness to our enemies. It is wrong to vote to undermine our troops in combat. It is wrong to vote to undercut peace through strength,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyoming).
The House is expected to take a similar vote as early as Thursday. The effort faces an uphill battle in a Republican-led Congress and would almost certainly be vetoed by the president if it were to reach his desk.
Democrats have argued that the president’s goals in Iran are unclear and his unilateral strikes are unconstitutional. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war, though presidents from both parties have bypassed lawmakers in the past.
Republicans have largely backed the president’s strikes on Iran, arguing that the operation doesn’t require a formal declaration of war because it was “defensive in nature” and expected to be short in duration.
The Trump administration has said the operation could last for several weeks but has not set a firm end date. Their stated objectives include destroying Iran’s navy and missile program, and preventing Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The president has expressed support for regime change in the past, but the White House says that is not his current focus, even after Israeli strikes killed Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday.
