Senate Republicans rejected a war powers resolution in a late-night vote on Wednesday, hours after President Donald Trump berated GOP senators over their opposition to his controversial war on Iran. The measure failed 47-50-1 just before midnight, with Senator Rand Paul voting present to give the president more negotiating space.
The vote came after a tense lunch on Capitol Hill where Trump harangued Republican senators, particularly Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, who had previously voted with Democrats to advance the resolution. Cassidy reported a heated exchange with Trump, who asked why anyone would support the War Powers Act. Cassidy replied, “Is that a rhetorical question, or would you like to really know?”
Hours later, Cassidy received a personal briefing at the White House from Vice President JD Vance and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. He then returned to the Capitol to vote against the nearly identical resolution. Cassidy, who lost re-election last month after Trump endorsed his opponent, thanked the administration for addressing his concerns.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and a group of GOP senators called Trump after the vote, and Thune reported that the president was “pleased with the outcome.” Trump later thanked Thune in a social media post, noting that Cassidy and Paul had switched their votes, and wrote, “This vote puts Iran on notice!”
The war powers measure was largely symbolic and does not carry the full force of law. It remains unclear whether the move will appease Trump, who had previously called the Republicans “losers” for opposing his war and referred to Cassidy as a “lunatic” during the lunch.
