U.S. Senate blocks Iran war powers resolution after clash with President Trump

The Senate voted 50‑47, largely along party lines, to block a war‑powers resolution that would have required Congress to halt U.S. hostilities with Iran. Republican senators Bill Cassidy and Rand Paul, who had previously supported a similar measure, switched their positions after a closed‑door meeting with President Donald Trump, with Cassidy voting no and Paul voting present. Two Republican leaders, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined Democrats in favor of the resolution, while other Republicans either voted against it or abstained.

Following the vote, President Trump posted on social media that the decision “puts Iran on notice.” Commentator Lawrence O’Donnell later condemned the two senators, saying they were “bully‑ed” by Trump into changing their votes and warning that the reversal could haunt them politically.

The episode highlights ongoing tensions between the executive branch and Congress over authority to conduct the Iran war and reflects intra‑party pressures ahead of upcoming elections.