In a late-night decision aimed at appeasing President Trump, Senate Republicans voted against a resolution urging the end of the war against Iran. This decision followed a bipartisan reproach of Trump’s war powers.
On Wednesday, President Trump met with Senate Republicans at the Capitol for an intense lunch behind closed doors. Later, Senate leaders presented a similar measure on the Senate floor after heated exchanges over the previous day’s decisions.
The vote resulted in 50 against and 47 in favor, with one senator voting “present.” This move was largely symbolic and did not alter the resolution passed by the Senate the day before. It was meant to placate a president displeased with the Senate’s actions.
Two Republican senators who initially supported the resolution changed their votes. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky altered their positions. Cassidy had earlier confronted Trump over the lack of transparency regarding the war’s status. After a White House briefing with Vice President JD Vance and Steve Witkoff, the president’s special envoy, he felt reassured and chose to vote against the measure. Cassidy stated, “I was going to vote yes, but I had a briefing this evening, and it was complete. I am reassured.”
Paul, who voted “present,” indicated that Trump’s lunchtime remarks affected his decision, though not his stance on the conflict or Congress’s authority in declaring war.
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