Senate Republicans voted down a war powers resolution late on Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump berated them for opposing his policy on Iran during a lunch at Capitol Hill. The measure, aimed at blocking US military action against Iran, failed by 47 votes to 50, with one abstention.
The president was said to have engaged in a heated exchange with Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, one of four Republicans who had previously voted with Democrats on a similar resolution. Cassidy told reporters that when Trump asked why anyone would support the War Powers Act, he replied: “Is that a rhetorical question, or would you like to really know?”
Later that day, Cassidy received a personal briefing on Iran at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steve Witkoff. After the briefing, he returned to the Senate to vote against the nearly identical resolution. Cassidy said on social media that he appreciated the “thorough briefing” and the “quick invitation” to address his concerns.
Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, who had previously voted with Democrats to halt the war, voted present this time, explaining that he wanted to give the president “more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace”. The vote came after Trump had called Republicans who opposed him “losers” and described Cassidy as a “lunatic” during the lunch.
Despite the tensions, Senate majority leader John Thune and a group of GOP colleagues called Trump after the vote to inform him of the outcome. Thune said the president was “pleased”. Trump later thanked Thune on social media, noting that Cassidy and Paul had changed their votes, and declared: “This vote puts Iran on notice!”
