Senate Republicans narrowly reject resolution to curb war with Iran
by Darryl Coote · UPIJune 25 (UPI) -- Senate Republicans late Wednesday narrowly defeated a Democratic resolution directing President Donald Trump to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran unless military force is authorized by Congress.
Democrats have for the duration of the monthslong war with Iran sought to curb Trump's ability to wage war and on Tuesday successfully passed a similar though seemingly mostly symbolic War Powers Resolution in the Senate with the votes of four Republicans: Sens. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky.
In rejecting S.J.Res. 185 in the late Wednesday 50-47 vote, Cassidy cast his ballot alongside the majority of his Republican colleagues while Paul voted present.
"Wow!" Trump said in response on his Truth Social platform. "Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy changed. ... This vote puts Iran on notice!"
If the Senate had passed the resolution by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., it would have gone to the desk of Trump, who was widely expected to veto it.
Democrats have argued that Trump has usurped Congress' authority to declare war, while he has rebutted that the war ended with a cease-fire and the resolutions -- war powers or otherwise -- are moot.
Cassidy changed his vote from Tuesday after being briefed on the war at the White House by Vice President JD Vance and special envoy Steven Witkoff.
"I appreciate the quick invitation to the White House to address many of my concerns," he said on X.
Paul, a critic of the war, said his vote was "a way to give the president more space and leverage to negotiate a lasting peace."
"My opinion on the debate over war and executive power has not changed and I have voted that way several times," he said in an online statement.
"But since hostilities seem to be over and the president asked me to give consideration to his negotiating position, I will do so."
The vote was held as the United States and Iran negotiate the implementation of an MOU signed last week that seeks to pave the way toward an official end to the conflict.
"Republican senators are completely united behind President Trump, his plan for peace and security, while Senate Democrats, especially their fringe candidates, are ruder-less and massively divided," Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, claimed in a statement on X.
After the vote, the Senate went into recess until July 13.
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President Donald Trump presents a Medal of Honor to Tom Ripley on behalf of his father, John W. Ripley, during a Medal of Honor award ceremony in the East Room of the White House on Thursday. Photo by Aaron Schwartz/UPI | License Photo